The accident, which occurred at the Balogun end of Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos, according to eyewitnesses, occurred after the driver of the PHCN van with number plate, FG 343 N41, lost control while attempting to make a U-turn.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that while the driver of the PHCN van was making a U-turn, he suddenly spotted a pothole and attempted to dodge it but lost control.
One of the eyewitnesses said the driving was speeding when he wanted to make the U-Turn and did not see the pothole on time.
Chukwudi Eze, who sells tyres adjacent the scene of the accident, told our correspondent that the PHCN driver, in a bid to dodge the pothole, rammed into the median, thereby causing the van to jump to the other side.
He said, “Around 9:30am, I saw the PHCN van driver speed towards the junction, make a U-turn but as he was still turning, he spotted a deep pothole and attempted to dodge it but the back tyres entered the pothole.
“The driver then hit the accelerator but he may have pressed it so hard as the van hit the median, climbed over it and landed on the two vehicles driving on the other side of the road towards Ikeja.
“The danfo, which was said to be coming from Ikeja, carried many passengers but fortunately, all the passengers escaped unhurt.”
Our correspondent observed that the brown Peugeot, with number plate JS 563 KJA, felt the impact of the accident more while the commercial bus was mildly affected.
The incident caused traffic congestion from the state secretariat, Alausa, through Agidingbi, holding up Ikeja-bound motorists in traffic for over an hour.
Also, scores of people who gathered around the scene compounded the traffic congestion by blocking a section of the road.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, civil defence corps, the Rapid Response Squad of the police were on ground to assuage the situation.
The Lagos State Ambulance Service came shortly after to take the injured occupant of the Peugeot vehicle away.
Most of the eyewitnesses described the survival of the Peugeot’s driver whose vehicle was crushed, as miraculous.
He only sustained minor injury.
Some other witnesses, who spoke with our correspondent, complained about the rising number of potholes along the Obafemi Awolowo Way.
A recharge card vendor, Philomena Ogbor, said the potholes usually caused traffic congestion or accidents.
She said, “There are increasing number of potholes on this road alone and now that the rainy season is here, they are getting wider and deeper.
“Although today’s accident was caused mainly by over speeding, the pothole was a contributory factor. Some weeks ago, some government officials promised to come and repair it but until now, nothing has been done.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said the PHCN van and the Peugeot had been taken to the MAN Centre Police Division.
She said, “There was hold up along Obafemi Awolowo Way, shortly after Balogun Bus Stop at the U-Turn spot, a Toyota Hilux van belonging to PHCN while making a U-Turn, climbed the pavement and landed on two vehicles; a Peugeot 406 and a yellow commercial bus.
“The passengers were not injured but the driver of the Peugeot sustained minor injuries and was taken away by LASAMBUS to a hospital where he was treated and discharged.”
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