By Adedeji ADEMUYIWA
Nigeria – A driver of a mini-bus, fondly called ‘Korope’, nearly lost his life in a lone accident in Lagos on Sunday, June 9, but was swiftly rescued by operatives of the state’s Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The accident, at Ilubirin, near Adeniji Adele on the Third Mainland Bridge, according to an official statement by LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, was due to loss of control of the vehicle.
The driver of the white Suzuki bus, marked LSR 116 YD, lost control and rammed into the culvert.
He was said to had sustained a serious back fracture and injury on his left hand, and was immediately taken to the General Hospital by LASAMBUS officials, assisted by LASTMA operatives.
The cause of the accident, according to LASTMA’s spokesman, was the driver’s non- adherence to traffic rules-receiving calls while on the wheels.
According to Adebayo, “LASTMA personnel immediately contacted other emergency responders, including LASAMBUS officials and police officers from the Adeniji Adele Police Station”.
Continuing, the LASTMA’s image maker said, “Our team promptly removed the damaged Suzuki from the expressway, to ensure smooth traffic flow towards Iyana-Oworo on the Third Mainland Bridge”.
In his reaction, Hon. Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the state Governor on Transportation, expressed sympathies to the injured driver and emphasized the importance of road safety.
He, however, urged all motorists, including commercial bus drivers, to avoid using phones while driving, and to refrain from over speeding.
