Deborah Akinyosoye
A chaotic moment unfolded on Monday night as a train collided with a Toyota Hiace bus at the Arena area of Oshodi in Lagos State.
Following the alerts, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASTMA) said it immediately activated the state’s emergency response plan from its Cappa Base in Oshodi and deployed its response team to the scene.
The emergency agency confirmed that no casualties were recorded in the incident.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said, “Following distress alerts received at about 7:53p.m., LASEMA activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from its Cappa Base, Oshodi.
“Upon arrival of LRT at the incident scene at about 8:11p.m., it was discovered that a train and a Toyota Hiace bus registration number AGL-671-XR were involved in an accident at the aforementioned location.
“Preliminary investigation conducted by the agency’s Response Team revealed the immediate cause of the incident was due to reckless driving on the part of the Toyota Hi-Ace bus driver while driving outside the Arena shopping complex Oshodi, but was hit by an on-coming train which left the bus stuck on the rail tracks.
“Fortunately, no casualties nor mortality were recorded as a result of the incident,” it added. However, the crash caused significant damage to the bus.
“The incident resulted in significant damage to the white Toyota Hi-Ace bus, due to the magnitude of the crash,” the agency stated.
LASEMA said its response team carried out a risk assessment at the scene and implemented safety measures to prevent further incidents.
The agency also confirmed that train operations were temporarily halted to allow for the evacuation of the bus.
“The white Toyota Hi-Ace bus involved in the accident has been extracted from the railway tracks.
“The recovered white bus has been towed to LASTMA yard in Oshodi.
“The rail track has been set free and normal activities have been restored. The recovery operation has been successfully concluded,” the agency said.