Accident: BRT bus overturns in Lagos, injures ten

No fewer than 10 people were injured in an accident when a fully loaded high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus overturned within the dedicated BRT lane on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway near Iyana-Ipaja.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) reported that the accident occurred around 7:45 a.m. on August 23, 2024.

In a post on its official X handle, LASTMA detailed the incident:

“A fully loaded high-capacity bus fell on its side inside the dedicated lane (BRT lane) with a record of 10 Victims, which they were taken care of.”

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to provide medical assistance and transport the injured to nearby healthcare facilities.

LASTMA confirmed that all injured passengers have received medical attention. The accident caused significant traffic disruption in the area.

Drivers and commuters have been advised to exercise caution and follow traffic directives as the situation is managed.

Additionally, LASTMA reported another traffic issue:

“There is a fallen loaded truck at Durbar Junction inward Alakija that took 100% of the road.

“Traffic has been diverted through the service lane from Orile heading towards Durbar.

“Efforts are ongoing to evacuate it from the road and our men are firmly in position to monitor the situation.

“Transloading of contents in the fallen truck is currently ongoing. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

Another crash occurred opposite Northwest, in-bound Ajah, involving two vehicles. LASTMA attributed this incident to over-speeding.

Detailed description of the accident

The accident occurred near Iyana-Ipaja, where a fully loaded BRT bus overturned within the dedicated BRT lane.

The bus collided with an abandoned footbridge right after departing from the Iyana-Ipaja BRT park.

As a result, the impact caused the bus to tip over onto its side, resulting in injuries to ten passengers.

The weather at the time was reported to be clear, with no adverse conditions contributing to the incident.

The bus was heavily damaged on its side, with shattered windows and significant structural impact on the right side of the vehicle.

Additionally, there was some visible damage to the road divider, which the bus reportedly climbed before falling on its side.

This section of the BRT lane was temporarily closed as emergency responders worked to clear the scene and restore normal traffic flow.

Eyewitness account

Witnesses describe the scene as chaotic, with passengers screaming in panic as the bus overturned inside the dedicated BRT lane.

Alexandre Oke, a bystander, said the bus struck an obstruction on the road, causing it to tip over.

He observed that some passengers were able to exit the bus quickly, while others were trapped inside until emergency responders arrived.

Another witness, Godwin Uche @Godwingosh on X, shared a video on X showing a victim lying motionless with visible injuries, which further heightened the sense of urgency at the scene.

Nearby shop owners also noted that the bus’s sudden fall caused a momentary halt in their activities as they rushed to assist the injured passengers.

They expressed concern about the safety of the BRT lanes, particularly regarding obstacles that might be left unchecked.

Previous accidents involving BRT buses

March 9, 2023, Train-BRT Collision

A tragic accident occurred on March 9, 2023, when a BRT bus collided with a train at the PWD rail crossing in Ikeja, Lagos.

The BRT bus, which was carrying Lagos State civil servants, was struck by an oncoming train while attempting to cross the tracks.

The collision resulted in multiple fatalities, including passengers on the bus, and several others were injured.

This incident led to widespread criticism and calls for improved safety measures at railway crossings.

It also sparked demands for better coordination between different modes of transportation and stricter enforcement of traffic rules in Lagos.