“It Was Like a Bomb”: Fuel Tanker Hits Commercial Bus, Leaves Five Wounded
At least five people were injured when a fuel-laden tanker lost control and crashed into a commercial bus at Toyota Bus Stop, inward Oshodi, in Lagos State.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday near The Guardian newspaper headquarters, was confirmed by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in a statement released Friday.
According to authorities, the vehicles involved were a petrol-laden tanker (Plate No. T28128LA) and a Volkswagen T4 commercial bus (Plate No. GGE 526 YG). Preliminary investigations by the Oloto Police Division revealed that the tanker suffered a sudden brake failure while speeding, resulting in a violent collision with the fully-loaded bus.
LASTMA operatives launched an immediate rescue operation, extricating five seriously injured victims — including three women and two men (among them the bus driver) — from the mangled wreckage.
“One of the victims was rushed to the hospital by a Good Samaritan, while others were transported by the Lagos State Ambulance Service and LASEMA’s Rescue Unit,” the agency stated.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bakare-Oki, expressed sympathy to the victims and blamed the crash on reckless speeding and poor vehicle maintenance.
“This tragic event is a stark reminder. Tanker and heavy-duty vehicle operators must ensure their vehicles, especially the braking system, are in optimal condition,” Bakare-Oki warned.
He urged truck owners to enforce routine training for their drivers, emphasizing that human life must be prioritized above all else on Nigerian roads.
