Black Thursday: Driver flees as 11 passengers die in Lagos bus fire
At least 11 people were burnt to death around Otedola Bridge in Berger area of Lagos State on Thursday.
They were among the 15 people in a commercial bus that “lost its brake, summersaulted and busted into fire”, General Manager for the Lagos State Emergency Mangement Authority (LASEMA), Michael Akindele said.
WARNING: Graphic (very disturbing) images of burnt death bodies ahead…
The accident is said to have occurred at around 6pm – the time most people return home from work.
Three of the deceased were females while eight were males.
Akindele said three other passengers, all males, were rescued alive “and taken to the accident and emergency unit at Toll Gate”.
“The bus was said to be moving inward Berger by Otedola Bridge when the accident occurred around 6:10pm today (Thursday).
“LASEMA response team, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Fire Service and the Nigerian Police were involved in the rescue,” he said.
Police said the driver of the commercial bus fled the scene after escaping death.
“The vehicle which was on speed, the police learnt, suddenly lost control when the tyre busted and subsequently tumbled three times before it went up in flame,” state police spokesperson Dolapo Badmus said.
“Investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle escaped the inferno and later fled the scene immediately the accident occurred.
“Policemen and fire fighters were on ground to put off the fire and clear the obstruction the accident might have caused,” she said..
