Driver and female passenger burnt beyond recognition as fire razes commercial bus in Lagos

A commercial bus driver and his passenger were burnt to de@th while eight others sustained injuries after a minibus caught fire along the Okota–Mile 2 road on Tuesday, February 10.

Confirming the sad incident to newsmen, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, said the accident involved a yellow commercial minibus conveying nine passengers, including the driver, when an unidentified private vehicle allegedly reversed on the main carriageway. According to him, the sudden manoeuvre forced the minibus, which was travelling at a considerable speed, to brake abruptly, causing it to lose control, overturn several times and eventually burst into flames.

“Preliminary findings revealed that an unknown private vehicle reversed on the main carriageway, compelling the commercial minibus to apply an abrupt brake. In the course of this perilous convergence, the vehicle lost control, overturned repeatedly and ultimately went up in flames,” the statement read.

Further investigations, Taofiq disclosed, revealed that the driver was conveying a five-litre container of petrol inside the bus, which ignited immediately after the crash.

“The highly inflammable substance ignited instantly following the impact, resulting in a severe fire outbreak. Tragically, the driver and a female passenger seated in front were burnt beyond recognition,” the agency added

Taofiq said LASTMA operatives on routine traffic surveillance responded promptly to the incident and rescued eight passengers before the fire intensified.

“Through swift and decisive intervention, our operatives successfully rescued eight passengers from the wreckage and facilitated their immediate evacuation to a nearby medical facility,” he said.