Tragedy struck at Ojuelegba area of Lagos State on Sunday afternoon as a 20ft container-laden truck fell on a commercial minibus, popularly called “Korope”, killing nine occupants in the process.
The commercial bus was said to be picking up passengers at the bus stop along the Ojuelegba Bridge when the truck lost control and fell over the side of the bridge.
Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) who were among early responders at the scene of the accident, suspended the container and cut off the top of the bus to rescue a woman and who was immediately taken to the trauma centre.
Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA Permanent Secretary, confirmed the incident on Sunday.
According to him, the nine victims recovered comprised four adult males, three adult females, a girl child and a boy child.
A statement by the agency read: Upon arrival at the scene, a truck conveying a 20ft container was found to have landed on top of a commercial bus.
“Further 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,1 boy child and 1 girl child and 1 adult female rescued alive.
“The Agency’s heavy-duty Goliath and teams from Onipan and Cappa are on ground. The Agency’s Ambulance, LASG FIRE, FED FIRE, LASTMA and Nigeria Police have been working on this situation which is now concluded.
“Further investigation to be carried out by the Nigeria Police on the removal of the barriers on the bridge aimed at preventing trucks from ascending.”