A male passenger has died after jumping from a moving commercial bus in Lagos in an apparent attempt to escape the vehicle as its driver allegedly drove recklessly. The incident occurred at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, along the Surulere axis of Lagos State.
Bus Crash at Ogunlana Junction
The bus, a Volkswagen commercial vehicle with registration number LND 130 XR, later crashed into a median pole at the junction. According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), preliminary reports indicated that the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.
LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed the incident in a statement on Sunday. Taofiq said motorists approaching the bus from behind had reportedly tried to avoid colliding with the vehicle because of the way it was being driven.
Passenger’s Fatal Jump
The situation became chaotic as the bus remained out of control, prompting one of the male passengers to attempt to escape. The passenger jumped from the moving bus but sustained severe injuries after hitting the ground. He was later confirmed dead from the injuries sustained in the incident.
LASTMA officials conducting routine traffic surveillance in the Ojuelegba area reportedly responded to the crash after sighting the accident. The officials secured the scene, managed traffic and cleared the wreckage and victim from the road to prevent another accident.
Emergency Response and Police Involvement
Officers from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, also secured the scene, while officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) recovered the deceased passenger’s remains.
LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki urged motorists and commercial transport operators to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy before embarking on journeys. He specifically advised drivers to check critical components, including their brakes, tyres and steering systems, before putting vehicles on the road.
The agency also urged members of the public to report traffic-related emergencies through its toll-free emergency numbers, 767 or 112, to enable authorities to respond promptly.
