Driver of speeding commercial bus loses control, causes death of eight in Lagos

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Sunday said a fatal road traffic collision at Atura Bus Stop, inbound Badagry, has claimed the lives of eight passengers, including one of the drivers involved and a conductor.

The transportation agency said the incident involved a 16-seater commercial Mazda bus, marked KJA 811 YF, and a DAF truck, with number plate, T1 4636 LA.

Adebayo Taofiq, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, said in a statement that the agency’s operatives, in concert with personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force (Morogbo Division), and the 244 Battalion of the Nigerian Army (Ibereko Barracks), launched a coordinated rescue operation at the accident scene.

“Their timely intervention led to the successful extraction of eight surviving passengers, all of whom sustained varying degrees of trauma. They were evacuated to the General Hospital in Badagry via an FRSC vehicle for critical medical attention.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the commercial bus lost control while navigating at a perilously high speed, leading to a catastrophic collision with the DAF truck. The resultant impact left little chance for evasion or survival for several occupants of the bus,” Adebayo added.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the crash site, extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for divine fortitude to help them withstand the irreplaceable loss.

Bakare-Oki warned commercial and heavy-duty vehicle operators to eschew excessive speeding, adhere strictly to safety protocols, and ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles to avoid unnecessary fatalities.

He also highlighted the deployment of speed-limiting mechanisms at critical flashpoints across Lagos, as part of the state government’s broader commitment to reducing road carnage, protecting commuters, and fostering a culture of compliance and safety.