The driver of the Lagos State Government staff bus that collided with a moving train in the Ikeja area of the state on Thursday has appealed to the victims of the accident to forgive him.
This comes after one of the survivors of the accident, simply identified as Titilayo, while recounting the events leading up to the collision in a chat with newsmen, said that they begged the bus driver to wait for the train to pass, but he refused.
Another survivor said the 44-year-old driver, Oluwaseun Osinbajo, had his earpiece on while driving and ignored the directive of the flag officers at the rail line.
According to new reports, while no fewer than seven people have been confirmed dead and others who sustained injuries in the crash are currently receiving treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, the erring driver has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department.
Sharing his side of what transpired on that fateful day, the driver, who works with the Lagos State Ministry of Transport, blamed the incident on a mechanical fault in the bus.
“It was not my fault. How could I have ignored warning signs? The bus had a mechanical fault. It is a pity this has happened. I beg everyone affected to please forgive me in the name of God.” The Vanguard newspaper quoted him as saying.