17 passengers escaped death because the driver suffered a seizure on the third land bridge

Seventeen passengers were nearly thrown into the lagoon of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos on Sunday after the driver of the bus they were traveling in suffered a seizure behind the wheel.

The driver, who was reportedly traveling at high speed from Ajah towards the mainland, suddenly experienced a seizure, causing the commercial bus to make a dangerous turn towards the lagoon.

A quick-thinking passenger is said to have controlled the steering wheel and controlled the vehicle safely, preventing a fatal accident.

One of the passengers involved in the incident said: “Thank God. This will be a case of ‘rest in peace.’ I was just out to earn a living when the driver suddenly had a seizure while driving.”

The Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, who confirmed the incident, said, “the driver was immediately rescued, while one of the passengers drove the bus to a safe location after crossing the bridge,” he said.

Meanwhile, LASTMA has introduced a toll-free emergency short code, 3367, to strengthen emergency response, improve traffic management and promote public accountability.

Taofiq said the new platform, available to customers on the MTN, Glo and 9mobile networks, replaces the agency’s previous service codes with a more accessible communication channel.

Motorists and citizens can use this hotline to report traffic accidents, broken down vehicles, stranded fuel tankers, disabled articulated vehicles, and other traffic emergencies that require immediate attention.

This platform also allows the public to report on the behavior and professionalism of LASTMA officials, and promotes transparency and accountability.

To ensure wider accessibility, callers can communicate in English, Yoruba or Pidgin English.