NRC blames bus driver for Lagos train accident as death toll hits six

Six people have been confirmed dead in an accident involving a train and a Lagos State staff bus in the Shogunle-Ikeja area on Thursday morning.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, blamed the driver of the staff bus for daring to cross the rail track while other vehicles were waiting for the approaching train to pass.

Scores of people seriously injured in the accident were taken to the trauma centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Speaking with journalists at LASUTH, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said four of the victims were confirmed dead at the hospital.

The governor said blood donors are needed for the victims and he called on Lagos residents to come to their aid.

Speaking on the incident with NAN, Okhiria said the driver attempted to cross the rail track and beat the train.
The NRC boss said, “According to the information I gathered at the scene of the incident, they said many cars stopped when they got to the level crossing while the Lagos State Staff Bus driver continued moving, which I don’t know why.
“Maybe the driver thought he could pass before the train got nearer to him. He could not pass, and then the train crushed the bus; that is what we gathered.
“The train was coming from Ijoko to Iddo.”

He urged Lagos drivers to be careful when driving through the level crossing.