Passenger dies after jumping from moving bus in Lagos

A passenger has died after jumping from a moving commercial bus that subsequently crashed into a median pole at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, Lagos State.

The accident, which occurred along the Ojuelegba axis of Surulere, involved a Volkswagen commercial bus with number plate LND 130 XR.

The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Taofiq said preliminary reports indicated that the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.

He said motorists approaching the bus from behind reportedly exercised caution in an attempt to avoid colliding with the “erratically driven” vehicle.

According to him, a male passenger, apparently attempting to escape from the uncontrolled vehicle, jumped out of the moving bus and sustained severe injuries after hitting the ground.

The LASTMA spokesperson said the passenger subsequently died from the injuries sustained in the incident.

He stated, “In the ensuing pandemonium, a male passenger, apparently attempting to escape from the uncontrolled moving vehicle, jumped out of the bus and sustained grievous injuries upon impact with the ground.

“Tragically, the passenger subsequently succumbed to the injuries sustained in the incident.”

Taofiq said LASTMA personnel conducting routine traffic surveillance along the Ojuelegba area swiftly responded after sighting the crash.

He said the officers immediately secured the scene, instituted emergency traffic-management measures and removed the deceased and the damaged vehicle from the carriageway to prevent a secondary collision.

Security personnel from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, provided security cover at the scene, while officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency evacuated the remains of the deceased.

Taofiq described the incident as another reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and engaging in reckless motoring.

He also urged motorists to ensure that their vehicles were in good mechanical condition before embarking on journeys.

Reacting to the incident, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, advised commercial and private motorists to carry out comprehensive checks on their vehicles, particularly their braking systems, tyres, steering mechanisms and other critical safety components.

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, Bakare-Oki reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to prompt response to road crashes, effective traffic management and the quick clearance of accident scenes.