By Ayomide Otitoju
A 55-year-old motorist escaped without injury after a moving train collided with his Honda car at the PWD railway crossing in Lagos, leaving the vehicle extensively damaged and causing traffic congestion in the area.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, saying the train was travelling towards Agege when it collided with the car, with registration number EKY 902 JT.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, the agency said the vehicle was virtually a write-off.
Despite the severity of the collision, the driver escaped without reported injuries, and no casualties were recorded at the scene, according to LASTMA.
An earlier traffic update issued at 7:20 a.m. said onlookers had pushed the car off the tracks, while LASTMA officers managed traffic and emergency responders attended to the incident.
The agency said its operatives, working with security personnel, rescued the driver and removed the damaged vehicle from the railway track, enabling the train to continue its journey towards Agege.
However, traffic congestion persisted around the PWD axis after the obstruction was cleared.
LASTMA said the wrecked vehicle was subsequently handed over to security personnel for investigation into the cause of the collision.
The agency’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the personnel involved for their coordinated response and stressed the importance of prompt intervention and cooperation during transport emergencies.
He urged motorists to exercise caution at railway crossings and warned them against attempting to cross when a train was approaching or already in motion.
LASTMA also appealed to motorists and other road users to comply with traffic and railway safety regulations to prevent avoidable collisions.
