Train crash survivor from Lagos: “Switching seats saved my life.”

A survivor of Thursday’s collision between a train and a bus carrying employees of the Lagos State government described how giving up her favorite seat to take a seat next to a coworker saved her life.

She described how the train hit the spot where she usually sits in the bus.

Oluwaseun Osinbajo, the driver of the staff bus for the Lagos State government, has since apologized and put the accident down to a mechanical problem with the vehicle.

However, survivors claimed that while driving, he was using his earpiece and disregarded the signalman at the rail line.

He’s had several tests, including psychiatric ones, and the authorities have said that they will bring charges against him.

“How I got by”

The civil servant, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “My survival a miracle.

In the morgue, I would have been one of those people.

I sat in the middle row, near the window, which had become my regular seat, when I got on the bus in Ikotun.

However, a friend (names withheld) invited me to join her on the third row in front on that fateful day.

“She claimed that the person for whom she had made the reservation had called to cancel her trip on the staff bus.

That’s how I vacated my fixed seat, which just so happened to be where the train struck.

“Whenever I think back on that, I quickly shrug off the idea of dying.

“I am grateful that only God could have done this.”

E’ ma lo, e’ duro

Another survivor, who only went by the name Ope, reported hearing “e ma lo, e duro” shouts when she awoke.

The staff bus transports every employee of the Lagos State government who lives in the Ikotun/Isolo area, regardless of the department or agency, so long as the employee is traveling to the secretariat, claims Ope.

I immediately fell asleep after settling into a seat in the first three rows up front in order to get some rest before getting to the office.

“But cries of ‘e ma lo, e duro’ (don’t go, wait) woke me up from my sleep.

Before I could get out of bed, a loud bang woke me up to what was happening. Many of us were thrown from our seats by the impact.

I passed out after hitting my head on a hard object. I was in an ambulance being transported to Orile Agege General Hospital when I opened my eyes.

additional victors

Other survivors that were taken to Orile Agege General hospital on Thursday were Mr. Juwon Fagbohun , 27, from the Agency  for Mass Education;  Adesoji Ajibade of the Office of the Head of Service; Mariam Olayiwola,18, Ministry of Health and Eniola Fashoyin, 53, from the Office of the Head of Service, PSO  Alausa.

Other were Mrs. Adejoke Banjo, 42, from the Office of the Head of Service; Olaide Alabi, 21, a student on Industrial Attachment with the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Empowerment; Sekinat Ogunremi, 24, from the Ministry of Justice; Aishat Gbadegeshin, 25, from the Ministry  of Establishment and Training.

Ganiyat Raji, from the Ministry of Science and Technology and Mrs Oluwatoyin Abiodun, 46,  a staff of the Ministry of Information and Strategy.

(Vanguard)