Five people were injured while a cow was killed in two separate road accidents in Lagos yesterday.
The first incident occurred in the Ogudu area and involved an unpainted commercial Mazda bus and a Korope (minibus).
According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the Mazda bus was eating while driving, leading to a loss of control and a collision with the minibus.
Five people – one man and four women – sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident.
In a statement, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, said, “Preliminary investigations reveal that the driver of the Mazda bus, distracted by eating while driving, lost concentration and subsequently lost control of the vehicle. This lapse in focus was exacerbated by a sudden brake failure, resulting in the unfortunate collision.”
LASTMA officials responded swiftly, rescuing the injured passengers from the Mazda bus. Paramedics, in conjunction with the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), promptly attended to the victims, who were transported to the Accident and Emergency Centre located near the Toll Gate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
In a separate incident, an Acura SUV collided with two cows along the Oworonshoki expressway.
The cows were reportedly wandering unattended across the road when the SUV, navigating a bend, struck them. One cow was killed instantly, and the vehicle sustained significant damage, particularly to its bumper.
Following the accident, LASTMA officials cleared the Acura SUV from the road to ensure smooth traffic flow. They handed the vehicle over to the police at Ogudu Police Station for further investigation.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed his sympathies to the victims of both accidents and urged all motorists, mainly commercial bus operators, to prioritise road safety. He stressed the importance of avoiding distractions and adhering to traffic regulations to prevent accidents.
