The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on behalf of the people and government, sympathised with the families of those who died on Sunday in the Ojuelegba truck accident.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Frederic Oladeinde, made the disclosure in a statement signed in Lagos on Monday.
Oladeinde said that nine persons died in the accident while the injured persons were being treated in hospital.
He said that the accident would be thoroughly investigated so as to prevent a recurrence of such tragic incidents.
Four adult males, three adult females, one boy child and one girl child lost their lives in the Ojuelegba truck accident, while one adult female was rescued alive on Sunday, January 29, 2023.
The truck conveying a 20ft container landed on a commercial bus.
Permanent Secretary (PS), of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu said investigations revealed that the bus was picking up passengers when the truck lost control and fell over the side of the bridge.
“After suspending the container load with the aid of the Agency’s forklift and cutting off the top of the bus with light rescue equipment, a single adult woman was extricated alive and taken to the trauma centre.
“Final casualty count is 9 fatalities comprising 4 adult males, 3 adult females, one boy child and one girl child. One adult female was rescued alive.
“We share the grief of those who lost their loved ones in the accident and pray that the Almighty will strengthen them at this difficult time,” Oladeinde siad.
He, however, said that the government would continue to implement its Transport Master Plan, which had safety strategies that would ensure safer roads.
FRSC Calls for barricades
The Corps Marshal, Mr Dauda Biu has expressed concern over recurring container crashes on Ojuelegba bridge in Lagos and called for barricades to stop articulated vehicles from using the bridge.
Biu said this in a statement issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem on Sunday in Abuja.
He was reacting to the fatal crashes that occurred at Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos in which nine people died and another that claimed 11 lives at Soka bridge on Lagos-Benin Highway.
He said that the construction of the barricades would provide permanent solution to the recurring crashes.
Biu also called for the expansion of connecting roads under the Ojuelegba bridge to accommodate articulated vehicles.
He revealed that FRSC rescue teams in collaboration with other emergency agencies had cleared obstructions from the two crash scenes for ease of movement.
Biu added that the driver of the truck that caused the Ojuelegba accident was arrested and handed over to the police, while efforts were on to arrest the driver that caused the Soka bridge crash.
The corps marshal reiterated the need for enforcement of laws that would bring justice to victims of traffic crashes.
“Efforts should be made to activate them so that justice will be served accordingly to both the drivers and the victims,” he added.
The corps marshal cautioned commuters against route violation and driving against prescribed legal speed limits.
He urged the public to call the FRSC toll free line 122 and National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM to report any traffic emergency.
