Pandemonium erupted Saturday at the popular Third Mainland Bridge in
Lagos when a yet-to-be identified lone driver of a Toyota Sienna bus
plunged into the lagoon.
But contradictory reports claimed that the Toyota Sienna bus was fully loaded with passengers, a claim that was yet to be confirmed as at the time of filing this report .
However, no life was lost as the victim was immediately rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment.
THISDAY gathered that the rescue team made up of local divers and fishermen from the Ilaje community rescued the victim.
According to eyewitness account, the Sienna bus had skidded off the
bridge and plunged into the lagoon in the full glare of motorists and
pedestrians whose quick alarm probably saved the victim.
However, sources said the victim who sustained varying degrees of
injuries was immediately rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching
Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja by men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
While rescue effort was going on, operatives of Lagos State Traffic
Management Agency (LASTMA), the police and the FRSC made frantic efforts
to ensure free flow of traffic.
But despite their concerted efforts, the long stretch of the bridge
became congested as motorists tried to catch a glimpse of the car and
the rescue team.
The incident which went viral on different social media platforms
including, Blackberry messenger, Twitter and Facebook incited panic in
the populace as the message claimed that the bus was fully loaded.
It would be recalled that in times past, several hoax messages had made
the rounds concerning vehicles falling into the third mainland bridge, a
claim that remained a hoax until Saturday.
Attempts to confirm the incident from the state Public Relations
Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy
Superintendent of Police, proved abortive as at press time.
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