Tragedy was averted on Tuesday when an overcrowded Lagos-bound train from Ogun State collided with a truck at the Shogunle Railway Crossing in Lagos State.
A News Agency of Nigeria correspondent aboard the train reported that the incident occurred at about 8am when a refuse clearing truck tried to rush past the railway crossing ahead of the approaching train, but was unsuccessful.
The train driver, seeing the partial blockage of the track by the truck, reduced speed, an effort which reduced the impact of the collision and saved the train from derailing.
In spite of the speed reduction, the train hit the back of the truck which was still on the track, the impact of which injured some passengers.
Following the impact, the truck hit the barrier at the crossing, which also hit a nearby electric pole.
Passengers aboard the train commended its driver for preventing it from derailing, as it continued to the Shogunle Station where some passengers alighted and others came on board.
The Director of Operation of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Niyi Alli, later told NAN that the truck had been impounded by the corporation and taken to its headquarters at Ebute Meta Junction.
“The owner of the vehicle too is liable for the cost of damage although we are yet to ascertain the cost of damage,” Alli said.
A Lagos-bound train from Ijoko in Ogun State on Friday, December 18 derailed at Iju Station.
The derailment disrupted the services of the corporation for the whole day, leaving hundreds of its passengers heading for Kano stranded at its terminus in Ido, Lagos.
