Two persons were burnt to death on Tuesday in a road accident involving a commercial minibus along the Okota–Mile 2 corridor of Lagos State, while operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) rescued eight injured passengers.
The accident occurred at the Balogun inward axis of Okota, Isolo, and involved a yellow commercial minibus, popularly known as Faka, with registration number SMK 823 YK.
In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the agency said preliminary investigations revealed that the crash was triggered by an unidentified private vehicle that reversed on the main carriageway.
According to the statement, the sudden reversal forced the commercial bus, which was travelling at considerable speed, to apply abrupt brakes, causing it to lose control, somersault several times and burst into flames while conveying nine passengers, including the driver.
LASTMA disclosed that further investigations showed the driver was carrying a five-litre container of petrol inside the vehicle, which ignited immediately after the crash and led to a severe fire outbreak.
“The driver and a female passenger seated in front were burnt beyond recognition,” the statement said.
The agency noted that its operatives, who were on routine traffic surveillance in the area, responded swiftly and rescued eight passengers from the wreckage before the fire intensified.
The injured victims were evacuated to a nearby hospital with the assistance of a public-spirited motorist, it added.
LASTMA said the accident scene was secured in collaboration with the Divisional Traffic Officer of Ilasa Police Division, while officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) extinguished the fire and supported rescue efforts.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, expressed sadness and commiserated with the families of the deceased.
Giwa warned both private and commercial motorists against dangerous driving practices, particularly reversing on highways, stressing that such actions pose serious risks and often lead to avoidable loss of lives.
