Tragedy struck along the Okota–Mile 2 corridor of Lagos State on Tuesday as a commercial bus driver and a female passenger were burnt to death after their vehicle burst into flames.
Eight other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority confirmed the accident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, who described the development as a devastating traffic incident.
Taofiq explained that the accident involved a yellow commercial minibus carrying nine passengers, including the driver, when an unidentified private vehicle allegedly reversed onto the main carriageway.
He said the unexpected manoeuvre forced the bus driver, who was said to be travelling at high speed, to apply a sudden brake, leading to a loss of control.
According to him, the vehicle somersaulted multiple times before it eventually caught fire.
“Preliminary findings indicate that an unknown private vehicle reversed on the main carriageway, compelling the commercial minibus to brake abruptly.
In the process, the bus lost control, overturned repeatedly and ultimately went up in flames,” the statement read.
Further investigations revealed that the driver was transporting a five-litre keg of petrol inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.
The inflammable substance reportedly ignited on impact, triggering a severe fire outbreak.
“Regrettably, the driver and a female passenger seated in the front were burnt beyond recognition,” Taofiq added.
He noted that LASTMA officials on routine patrol responded swiftly to the scene and rescued eight passengers from the wreckage before the fire escalated.
The injured victims were immediately evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Taofiq added that the scene was secured in conjunction with the Divisional Traffic Officer of the Ilasa Police Division to avert secondary accidents and ease traffic congestion.
Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Ambulance Service were also deployed to extinguish the blaze and support rescue operations.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“On behalf of the Lagos State Government, I express deep sorrow over this tragic loss of lives and extend heartfelt condolences to the families affected. We pray for the swift recovery of the injured passengers,” he said.
Giwa cautioned motorists against reckless driving habits, particularly reversing on highways, describing the practice as dangerous.
“Motorists must exercise utmost caution and refrain from reversing on highways, as such actions pose serious risks and can result in avoidable tragedies,” he warned.
The traffic agency reaffirmed its commitment to road safety and urged road users to adhere strictly to traffic regulations to prevent similar occurrences.