Eleven people – eight men and three women – were yesterday burnt to death in an accident on Otedola Bridge near Berger on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Michael Akindele said the accident occurred around 6:10pm when the brake of a 14-seater passenger Volkswagen commercial bus moving towards Berger, failed. The bus somersaulted and burst into fire.
He said three people were rescued and taken to the accident and emergency unit at the old Toll Gate.
LASEMA’s response team, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Fire Service and the Police were involved in the rescue.
Lagos Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos said: “A total number of 11 people comprising three women and eight men were burnt to death instantly, while four others have been rushed to the hospital. The vehicle which was on speed, the police learnt, suddenly lost control when the tyre got bust and subsequently tumbled three times before it went up in flame.
“Investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle survived the inferno and fled the scene immediately the accident occurred.
“Policemen and fire fighters were on ground to put off the fire and clear the obstruction the accident might have caused,” she said.