In the early hours of today, a train crushed a Lagos State staff BRT Bus conveying Staffs to the office at PWD railway crossing. Seven casualties were reported with several people injured, Hon Toyin Aremu, SSA on Transportation Lagos State said in a statement.

Aremu said, “the LASTMA officers on duty were quick to respond and immediately joined by LASEMA, NEMA, POLICE, FRSC, and citizens to rescue the victims and return normalcy.

According to him, “those injured have been taken to the hospital and on spot assessment is on going to avoid such reoccurrence.”

“It is quite unfortunate that we are experiencing this at this critical time. Our heart felt condolences goes out to the Lagos state governor, the civil service, friends and families of the deceased. May God give us all the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.”

“We wish all the injured quick recovery and we assure all citizens that the Lagos State Government will get to the root causes of this unfortunate incident.”

He stated that all motorists and Lagosians plying through PWD, Ikeja and environs can go about their businesses and be rest assured that safety of lives and property remains the core responsibility of our government.”

The Managing Director, of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Mr Fidet Okhiria, on Thursday, gave an account of the brief he got on the accident involving a train and a bus earlier in the day. Okhiria told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos: “According to the information I gathered at the scene of the incident, they said many cars stopped when they got to the level crossing while the Lagos State Staff Bus driver continued moving, which I don’t know why.” Maybe the driver thought he could pass before the train got nearer to him. He could not pass, and then the train crushed the bus; that is what we gathered.“The train was coming from Ijoko to Iddo.”

He urged Lagos drivers to be more careful when passing through the level crossing, to avoid train accidents.

The managing director, who was concerned about the lives of the Lagos State staff, appealed to motorists to consider the level crossing at all times.

Meanwhile, Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (JANDOR) commiserates with the Lagos State Civil Servants who were victims of an accident involving a passenger train and a Lagos state government BRT staff bus at PWD junction, Ikeja area of the state earlier today.

In a statement signed by Gbenga Ogunleye, Head, Media & Communications JANDOR4Governor Campaign noted that he visited the scene of the accident and the Ikeja General Hospital where the victims were taken to offer support and succour.

He however stated that the accident is avoidable if barriers have been put in place to prevent vehicles access to the track while train approaches. He also condemned the slow response to medical emergency experienced by the victims, the statement added.

The Lagos State Blood Transfusions Committee has indicated that following the train/bus accident, blood donation is ongoing at general Hospital Gbagada, Lagos state Accident and Emergency Centre toll gate, General Hospital Lagos Island, Folarin Coker Staff Clinic Alausa Ikeja and LASUTH.

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