Bus With Faulty Break Plunges Into Bridge, Three Dead

An 18-seater bus plunged into an abandoned bridge in the Alagbole area of Ogun state yesterday. It was learnt that three persons died while 14 others, including a pregnant lady, were injured in the crash which happened around 1pm.

Eight of the victims were said to have been rushed to the Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital.

However, two of those in critical condition – a driver and a passenger – reportedly died while being taken to the Gbagada General Hospital, while another victim admitted in a private hospital was said to have given up the ghost.

It was gathered that the bus  had taken off from Akute, a neighbouring community, and was heading for Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.

The driver was said to have noticed that the brake was faulty and stopped a few meters away from the bridge to fix it.

A source told Punch that as the driver made to continue the journey, a woman expressed her doubt on the effectiveness of the brake and disembarked. No sooner had the vehicle left the bus stop than it crashed into the bridge.

An okada (motorcycle) rider, Bolu Aremu, said the pregnant woman sat by the door and jumped from the bus before it crashed into the bridge.

He said, “The driver thought the brake was in good condition after repairing it. The moment he took off from the bus stop, the vehicle raced uncontrollably downward the bridge. Except the woman that alighted, he and other passengers were injured. An elderly man broke his leg.

“They were trapped in the vehicle. Emergency workers had to cut through the iron seats to rescue them. One person died in one of the hospitals the victims were rushed to. A man bled from the eyes.”

Another eyewitness, Dada Akande, said the impact of the crash forced the scalp of the driver open.

“Although the accident should be blamed on the driver’s recklessness, the Ogun State Government needs to get contractors back to finish this bridge on time. The road leading to the bridge is steep, which aids accidents.

“Several vehicles have crashed into the bridge between January and now. If the bridge is completed on time, it will go a long way in reducing the crashes,” a resident, Ibrahim Tijani, said.