The scene of the accident yesterday.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has not only suspended his political campaigns for a second term in office, he has also declared three days of mourning for the six victims that died in the Lagos State staff bus which was crushed by a moving train in the Sogunle area of the state early yesterday morning.
The deeply touched governor also made a passionate plea to Lagosians to come out to donate blood to the 79 injured passengers of the bus, 29 of which were critical.
The accident took place between the Shogunle and Ikeja axis when the staff bus carrying civil servants veered into the rail track and was crushed by the oncoming train.
Report has it that two people died instantly at the scene of the accident.
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Some of the injured were taken to the trauma centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
Speaking with journalists at LASUTH, Governor Sanwo-Olu said four of the victims were confirmed dead at the hospital adding that blood donors are needed for the victims as he called on Lagos residents to come to their aid.
Meanwhile, Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), said the driver of the bus is to be blamed for the accident.
“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,” the NRC boss said.
“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.”
