A passenger train on Friday collided with a car in Lagos
This was a press statement issued by LASTMA on the incident
The operatives of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and security personnel today responded swiftly to a serious railroad collision at the PWD Railway Line, involving a moving train travelling inward Agege and a Honda car (EKY 902 JT), driven by a 55-year-old man who remarkably survived the harrowing encounter.
The collision inflicted extensive and irreparable damage on the Honda car rendered it virtually a complete write-off. Notwithstanding the severity of the impact and the considerable destruction sustained by the vehicle, the motorist miraculously escaped without any reported injury with no casualty recorded at the scene.
In a commendable inter-agency synergy, LASTMA operatives, working in concert with security personnel rescued the driver of the car unhurt and facilitated the immediate removal of the mangled vehicle from the railway track.
Their timely and coordinated intervention was instrumental in clearing the obstruction and enabling the train to resume its journey towards Agege.
Despite the successful removal of the wrecked automobile from the railway track, vehicular movement around the PWD axis remains severely impeded, with considerable traffic congestion continuing to undermine the smooth flow of traffic along the affected corridor.
The wrecked Honda car was subsequently handed over to security personnel by LASTMA for further investigation on the remove cause of the collision.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki commended the prompt, coordinated and professionally executed response of the Authority’s operatives and the security personnel involved in the emergency operation.
He acknowledged their exemplary vigilance, responsiveness and collaborative disposition in managing the aftermath of an incident with considerable potential for catastrophic consequences.
The General Manager emphasised that effective inter-agency collaboration, situational awareness and expeditious emergency intervention remain indispensable to mitigating the consequences of unforeseen transportation incidents, particularly those involving railway operations and adjoining road infrastructure.
He further reiterated the imperative of scrupulous adherence to railway safety regulations, urging motorists to exercise exceptional caution when approaching railway crossings and designated train corridors.
Bakare-Oki cautioned against any attempt to traverse railway tracks when a train is approaching or already in motion, stressing that reckless disregard for railway safety protocols could precipitate devastating and irreversible consequences.
LASTMA consequently appeals to all motorists and other road users to demonstrate heightened vigilance, sound judgement and uncompromising compliance with established traffic and railway safety regulations.
The Authority maintains that the preservation of human life must remain paramount in all road-use decisions, as preventable collisions can be averted through responsible conduct, anticipatory caution and strict observance of safety instructions.
Adebayo Taofiq
Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA.