A 55-YEAR-OLD man has escaped unhurt after a moving train collided with his Honda car at the PWD railway line in Lagos, leaving the vehicle extensively damaged and disrupting traffic in the area.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, stating that the train was travelling towards Agege when it collided with the Honda car, with registration number EKY 902 JT.
Read also: Passenger Dies Aboard Kenya Airways Flight From Nairobi To Lagos
In a statement signed on Friday by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, the agency disclosed that the vehicle was virtually a complete write-off following the collision.
“Notwithstanding the severity of the impact and the considerable destruction sustained by the vehicle, the motorist miraculously escaped without any reported injury, with no casualty recorded at the scene,” the statement said.
An earlier traffic update issued at 7:20 a.m. reported that onlookers had pushed the car off the tracks, while LASTMA officers managed traffic and emergency responders attended to the incident.
The agency explained that its operatives, working alongside security personnel, rescued the driver and facilitated the removal of the damaged vehicle from the railway track.
“Their timely and coordinated intervention was instrumental in clearing the obstruction and enabling the train to resume its journey towards Agege,” LASTMA said.
Read also: NGE Explains Obi’s Enugu Conference Appearance, Cites Invitations To APC, ADC, NDC Leaders
However, despite the successful clearance of the railway track and the resumption of the train’s journey, traffic congestion persisted around the PWD axis.
“Despite the successful removal of the wrecked automobile from the railway track, vehicular movement around the PWD axis remains severely impeded,” the statement added.
The wrecked Honda car was subsequently handed over to security personnel for investigation into the cause of the collision.
Meanwhile, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the coordinated response of the personnel involved in the rescue and recovery operation, stressing the importance of prompt intervention and cooperation during transport emergencies.
Bakare-Oki also urged motorists to exercise caution when approaching railway crossings, warning them against attempting to cross the tracks when a train is approaching or already in motion.
Read also: Oil Licensing: Nigeria Offers 40 Blocks, Promises Transparent Bidding Process
“The Authority maintains that the preservation of human life must remain paramount in all road-use decisions,” the statement said.
LASTMA further appealed to motorists and other road users to comply with traffic and railway safety regulations to prevent avoidable collisions and ensure the safety of lives and property.