Train-Bus Collision: Lagos Discharges 32 Victims; Driver Remains In Police Custody

• An oncoming train crashed into a Lagos government staff bus on Thursday.

• The accident led to the death of at least six passengers, while more than 100 people were injured.

• The government has started discharging victims who were treated successfully.

Eko Hot Blog reports that Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said three government hospitals have discharged 32 victims of Thursday’s train-bus crash in the state.

Recall that a Lagos State government staff bus conveying civil servants on Thursday morning collided with an oncoming train at the PWD – Shogunle axis of Ikeja.

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The accident led to at least six deaths.

Addressing journalists at a briefing, which took place at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), on Friday, the Lagos health commissioner stated that three government hospitals admitted a total of 102 victims.

Abayomi explained that the government had ensured all victims were well taken care of and provided with necessary medical treatments.

He revealed that 19 were discharged from LASUTH; five from Accident and Emergency Centre at the Toll Gate and eight from the Orile-Agege General Hospital.

The commissioner adduced the low casualty figure recorded to the effective triage strategy that was put in place and carried out first by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and secondly by the management of LASUTH.

“What we have recorded here in the hospital (LASUTH), is 102 injured persons associated with the train-bus accident, we believe most of these would have been inside the bus, but because the bus was carried for a long distance by the train, we also aware that there were persons that were injured outside of the bus. So, this is probably responsible for the higher number of persons that were brought to LASUTH for treatment,” Abayomi said.

“It is a bit too early to really get full details from most of the passengers or injured persons because a lot of them are in pain due to the moderate and severe injuries, so it is not a time to over stress them, but as they get better, we are going to collect more information from them.”

The commissioner stated that all patients are stable and responding well to management, adding that severe complications were very much unlikely as the patients had been settled to their respective wards.

Abayomi also disclosed that 40 units of blood were transfused to stabilise patients who require blood transfusion adding that the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) was able to collect 256 units of blood from voluntary donors who heeded the call for blood donation for victims of the accident.

“In terms of blood access, yesterday and early this morning, we were able to transfuse 40 units of blood to the victims to stabilize them, those that require blood because they are either going in for surgery or they were bleeding into their brain, chest or abdomen, we were able to save their lives with rapid access and availability safe blood,” he said.

“We say a very big thank you to citizens of Lagos who responded in a very unusual way. Yesterday, we were able to collect 256 voluntary units of blood from sympathisers and well-wishers and we are really grateful to the public for responding in this way.”

Abayomi, while acknowledging the well-coordinated responses of appropriate agencies of government, thanked all those involved in the life-saving efforts.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola acknowledged that the Lagos State staff bus involved in the accident was full to the acceptable capacity because staff opted for the bus which is free of charge as opposed to plying commercial transportation because of the present cash crunch situation in the country.

“The passenger capacity of the bus is 85; sitting capacity of about 45 and standing capacity of 40 passengers. The bus was full to capacity because quite a number of people due to the cash crunch situation opted to go with the bus which was free of charge as opposed to plying commercial transportation. Yes indeed, the bus was moving at full capacity,” he said.

Muri-Okunola noted that the driver of the bus is still in police custody assisting with investigation with regards to the cause of the accident.

“With regards to the driver, as Mr. Governor mentioned yesterday, he is currently with the police under investigation, his state of medical and mental fitness while driving has also been taken into consideration, which will form part of that investigative report. It is in the preliminary stage now, so I will not be able to speak to that but driver education is paramount in ferrying our civilians and our staff from point A to point B,” the senior civil servant said.

“We have a drivers institute that our drivers go to periodically to upscale their skills and I think it is a bit unfortunate to generalize that drivers of government vehicles are lawless or ply the road unlawfully, contrary to that, I think they have a bit more consideration in terms of road-user consideration.

“And in this case, I am surprised that this accident happened but that is what accidents are in my opinion. Until we find what the preliminary causes are, it will be premature to lay a blame. I’m sure driver error as alluded to by Mr. Governor was primarily responsible, but since that driver is still undergoing investigation, it will be preliminary for me to prejudice the investigation with any further information.”

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The briefing also had in attendance the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo; the Director Clinical Service and Training, Prof. Adebowale Adekoya, Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Sokunle and other Lagos State top government functionaries.

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