- Four people were killed, while 14 others sustained injuries after a drunk driver rammed into a commercial vehicle
- According to reports the driver was moving against traffic and on top speed before he rammed into the commercial bus
- During a search of the drunk drivers car some hard drug, a pair of scissors and empty bottles of alcoholic drinks were said to have been found
About four people were killed while 14 others sustained injuries after a drunk driver of a Lexus sport utility vehicle, Gbeminiyi Odeniyi, rammed into an 18-seater commercial bus at the first Lekki tollgate on Lekki-Ajah expressway, Lagos state.
NAIJ.com gathered that two persons died on the spot, two others reportedly died at the Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina, where they were taken to for treatment.
According to The Punch, some bus drivers mobilised to stage a protest against the management of the toll gate, but shelved the idea after realising the accident was caused by the driver of the vehicle, who was suspected to be drunk.
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Adeshina Tiamiyu, the general manager of LASEMA, said the agency received a distress call on the accident around 6.49am.
He explained that LASEMA mobilised other agencies to the scene, including policemen from the Maroko division, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, officials of the State Environmental Monitoring Unit and Lagos State Ambulance Service.
According to Tiamiyu, investigation by the agency’s response team at the scene showed that the Lexus GX470, with the number plate, Lagos KJA 615 DF, was driving against traffic when it rammed into the commercial bus.
“A total of four fatalities were recorded, including three adult males and an adult female. Sixteen casualties with severe injuries were rescued, including four adult females and 12 adult males. The driver of the vehicle was taken to the Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina.
“Emergency and security operatives were involved in traffic management (to forestall the occurrence of a secondary accident), crowd control, medical care to casualties and moving of victims to the general hospital and the Trauma Centre at the toll gate for further treatment.
“The two victims who died at the scene were handed over to SEHMU, while the remaining two were later confirmed dead,” he added.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lekki Concession Company, managers of the toll gate, Mohammad Hassan, claimed that hard drug were found in Odeniyi’s vehicle.
“The danfo (commercial bus) had just paid its toll and was about to leave when one hopeless motorist took one way and hit it.
“When the police came and searched the SUV, they found different kinds of drug, meaning the driver didn’t know what he was doing. I learnt two people died and others were injured,” he said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, said the police had a record of three deaths.
“Three bus passengers died on the spot, while 10 others, with varying degrees of injury, were rescued and taken to the Lagos Island and Gbagada general hospitals for treatment. The erring motorist is in a critical condition. Corpses have been deposited at the Lagos Island General Hospital’s morgue for autopsy, while the vehicles were recovered to the station for inspection,” he said.
Oti denied that the police found hard drug in the vehicle, saying the driver was, however, discovered to be drunk.
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In a previous report by NAIJ.com, a Human Rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Sunday, February 11 appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state to urgently do something about the increased toll charges at the Lekki-Epe expressway and Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge toll gates, NAN reports.
It was gathered that SERAP made the appeal in a statement signed by Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, its Executive Director, in reaction to recent fares increase by the Lekki Concession Company (LCC).
The LCC had on Feb. 1, increased the toll fare at the Admiralty Circle Plaza (Lekki-Epe expressway) from N120 to N200 for cars, N150 to N250 for Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV), N80 to N150 for commercial buses and N100 for motorcycles.
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Source: Naija.ng