Seventeen passengers narrowly escaped being thrown into the lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos on Sunday after the driver of the bus they were in suffered a seizure behind the steering wheel.
The driver who was reportedly on high speed from Ajah to the mainland when he suddenly had a seizure, causing the commercial bus to veer dangerously towards the lagoon.
A quick-thinking passenger was said to have taken control of the steering wheel and safely brought the vehicle under control, preventing what could have been a fatal accident.
One of the passengers involved in the incident said: “Thank God. It would have been a case of ‘rest in peace.’ I was just going out to earn my daily bread when the driver suddenly developed a seizure while driving.”
The Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, who confirmed the incident, said “the driver was immediately revived, while one of the passengers drove the bus to a safe location after crossing the bridge,” he said.
Meanwhile, LASTMA has introduced a toll-free emergency short code, 3367, to strengthen emergency response, improve traffic management and promote public accountability.
Taofiq said the new platform, available to subscribers on the MTN, Glo and 9mobile networks, replaces the agency’s previous service code with a more accessible communication channel.
Motorists and residents can use the hotline to report road traffic crashes, broken-down vehicles, stranded fuel tankers, disabled articulated vehicles and other traffic emergencies requiring immediate attention.
The platform also enables members of the public to report the conduct and professionalism of LASTMA officials, promoting transparency and accountability.
To ensure wider accessibility, callers can communicate in English, Yoruba or Pidgin English.
(Ripples)