The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were recorded after a train collided with a Toyota Hiace bus on Monday night at Arena, Oshodi, Lagos.
The confirmation was contained in a preliminary report issued by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, on Tuesday.
According to LASEMA, upon receiving the distress alert, the agency immediately activated the state’s emergency response plan from its Cappa Base in Oshodi and deployed emergency responders to the scene of the incident.
“Following distress alerts received on its 767/112 Toll Free Emergency Lines at 1953hours, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from its Cappa Base, Oshodi,” the agency stated.
According to LASEMA, its response team arrived at the scene by 8:11pm, where it discovered that a train had collided with a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AGL-671-XR.
“Upon arrival of LRT at the incident scene by 2011hours, 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,” the report read.
Giving details of how the accident occurred, the agency said preliminary findings showed that reckless driving by the bus driver led to the incident.
“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,” LASEMA said.
The agency noted that despite the severity of the collision, no one was injured.
“Fortunately, no casualty nor mortality was 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.
“LASEMA Response Team conducted appropriate Risk Assessment of the incident scene and activated necessary Safety and Control Measures, to curtail any secondary incident,” it said.
The agency also confirmed that train operations were temporarily halted to allow for the evacuation of the bus.
“Agency’s Response Team passed urgent Information to the railway station to stop train operations pending the evacuation of the accidental bus,” the statement read.
READ ALSO: Driver Flees as Runaway Truck Kills Two, Injures Three in Lagos — LASTMA
According to the report, the bus has since been removed from the tracks and towed to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority yard in Oshodi.
“The white Toyota Hi-Ace bus involved in the accident has been extracted from the railway tracks.
“The recovered accidental white bus has been towed to LASTMA yard in Oshodi,” it added.
LASEMA further stated that the rail line had been cleared and normal activities restored.
“The rail track has been set free and normal activities have been restored. Recovery Operation has been successfully concluded,” the agency said.
The response operation involved LASEMA officials from the Cappa Base in Oshodi, as well as officers of LASTMA.