Passenger dies after jumping from drunk driver’s bus in Lagos

A passenger has died after jumping from a moving commercial bus allegedly driven by a drunk driver before the vehicle crashed into a median pole in Lagos.

The incident occurred at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, in the Fallout area of Surulere, when the Volkswagen bus, with registration number LND 130 XR, reportedly veered violently into a median pole.

According to preliminary reports cited by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.

Other motorists reportedly had to take evasive action to avoid colliding with the erratically driven bus.

Amid the incident, a male passenger reportedly jumped from the moving vehicle in an attempt to escape. He sustained severe injuries from the fall and later died.

LASTMA officials conducting traffic surveillance in the Ojuelegba axis responded to the scene, secured the area and controlled traffic while the damaged vehicle and the deceased passenger were removed from the road.

Police officers from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, provided security at the scene, while officials of the State Emergency Management Agency evacuated the remains of the deceased.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on journeys, particularly by checking the braking system, tyres and steering mechanism.

He described the crash as a reminder of the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and the use of mechanically defective vehicles.

Bakare-Oki condoled with the family of the deceased and urged motorists to report accidents, vehicle breakdowns and other road obstructions to LASTMA through its toll-free short code, 3367.