A tragic accident occurred on Sunday at the Magboro Bus Stop along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, resulting in the loss of one life and injuries to seven others. The identity of the deceased remains unknown.
The accident, which happened around 7.50 am, involved a total of 16 individuals and two vehicles: a Mercedes Benz ML350 with the registration number AKD424HH and a Volkswagen commercial bus bearing the registration number KSF934YA.
According to eyewitness Opeyemi Lateef, the accident unfolded when the Mercedes Benz collided with the parked commercial bus at the bus stop while attempting to avoid a pedestrian crossing the road. Lateef explained, “What happened was that the driver of this Benz tried to avoid hitting a road user who wanted to cross the road, which resulted in a loss of control, thereby colliding with the commercial bus while its driver was waiting for passengers at the bus stop.”
Another witness, who preferred to remain anonymous, attributed the accident to the indiscriminate parking of commercial vehicles at the bus stop and speeding. He added, “I learned he (the Benz driver) was trying to avoid a road user that wanted to cross the highway before he lost control and hit this bus.”
The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Sector Command, Florence Okpe, confirmed the accident and cited speeding as the primary cause. Okpe disclosed that there were a total of 16 individuals involved in the accident, consisting of eight males and eight females. Seven individuals sustained injuries, while one person tragically lost their life.
Okpe also highlighted the issue of indiscriminate parking of commercial vehicles along highways, stating that it was a significant contributing factor to accidents at the Magboro Bus Stop. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and responsible driving on Nigerian highways.