Woman Escapes Death After BRT Rams Into Her In Lagos (Photo)

A middle aged woman, yesterday, escaped death by a whisker after a Bus Rapid Transport vehicle, rammed into her at Benson bus stop, Ikorodu area of Lagos, crushing her hand and leg.

The accident was said to have occurred just as the woman, Afolashade Akinwumi, was about to cross the expressway from the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), to Access Bank side of the road.

The bus, which knocked her down, crushed her right hand and leg. According to witnesses, immediately the bus driver realized he had hit the victim, he stopped and came down.

After checking the woman, and thinking she wouldn’t survive, the driver boarded his bus and zoomed off.

The accident, witnessed by many, caused anger, with many fearing that youths in the area may embark on a protest. Other BRT drivers, also fearing the worst, refused to reach their designated bus stops. Many stopped at Aruna bus stop.

Residents and commuters, who stormed the area, shuddered at the almost lifeless, bloodied body of the woman. The timely arrival of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) calmed nerves as the victim was rushed to a hospital.

There were conflicting reports about the cause of the accident. While some said the woman was trying to avoid a motorcycle, popularly called Okada, coming inwards Ikorodu on the BRT lane, others said no cyclist was involved in the accident.

An eye witness, who gave his name as Segun, said the woman, while crossing the road, was not fast enough, thus she was knocked down by the BRT, which was speeding.

Corroborating Segun’s statement, another witness, Ruth, said the woman was crossing the road when she was knocked down by the BRT.

One of the police officers, who was at the scene of the accident, said they were yet to get the full details of the BRT bus and the driver. She, however, said that the husband of the victim had been contacted.