My OperaMonday, August 20, 2012 9:32:29 AM
GONE WITH A DREAM
It was the holy month of Ramadan which was the fasting period of the Muslim Faithfuls, the fasting that day 7 August 2010 was really hard for me, at about 19:15 hrs the breaking period came with joy where all kinds of fruits and drinks were taken including water to quench my thirst. I eat as a glutton and this made me to become weak. As I was resting after the ‘’Isha’’ prayer which is the last prayer of the day unknown to me I dozed off with all my hand sets by my side including the official rescue line. Suddenly there was a call that made me to jump and recover from the short but deep sleep, as I received the call without bothering to see the number or who calls; alas it was a distress call calling on me to assist ’’ Yakubu there is an ugly accident after the second bridge on Jega – yauri road kindly assist us please'’.
The call came at exactly 21:15hrs hurriedly I told my wife job has come till you see me. At that material time I was faced with problems of my staff scattered in different locations of the town and only one duty driver that is constantly engaged day and Night, the driver was communicated with but no Okada to convey him down to the office. I have no option than to drive my car and pick him rush to the office to pick some staff and move to the scene of the crash for rescue mission, we reached the scene at about 12:30hrs.
The crash involved a bus belonging to IMAD Transport Company and a Mercedes Benz truck all with registration number XA82EKY and XA54WAS, the bus left Lagos with three staff of the transport Company and a lady that was given a leapt heading for Sokoto to convey some wedding luggage’s of one of her relations before proceeding to Kaduna. She was enjoying the ride full of hope to accomplish the task ahead of her which is to ensure delivery of the items intact to the family. They made a stopover at Koko town where the three male passengers and the driver who were Muslims broke their fasting, and proceeded on the journey without any evil thought or danger crossing their minds. About three KM to Jega the driver of the bus came across a pot hole and wanted to dodge it unknown to him there was danger ahead a stationary truck that broke down right on the middle of road which suddenly gave the driver of the bus a kiss of death.
We were left with no option than to rescue the three injured persons; the driver died instantly and was trapped with all his legs in chunks of metals. The injuries sustained by the lady were severe and very critical we lay her motionless on the stretcher in pool of blood gushing out of her mouth, the three rescued victims were taken to Jega General Hospital at about 22:00hrs for further medical attention.
The rescue team was left with the most difficult task of extricating the trapped driver from the bus; the doors of the bus could not be opened as a result of the impact of the collusion even the other victims were rescued through the boot. Fire man axe was used to cut the angles but all in vain since the metals are very strong couple with the fact that the strength of the rescuers drained as a result of the effect of fasting. After several attempt an idea came just like a revelation “use tow rope” trucks and articulated vehicles passing were stopped and asked for a tow rope finally two ropes were gotten at about 2:30 am.
The two ropes were used, one tethered to the stationary breakdown truck and one to the trailer that volunteered to offer a helping hand in towing or dragging the bus backward to force the metals yield and give way to free the dead driver from the entrapment. The method was successful and came with a relief; the dead body was taken to Jega General Hospital mortuary. While at the emergency room of the Hospital I was sympathetic the way the rescued lady groans, shouts and was restless an indication that she has a serious head injury. I then asked the man on duty if the case is beyond what they can handle in order for us to assist move her to Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kebbi, for further medical attention, but my fear was put to rest that they can handle the situation. It was at this juncture I heard ‘’Allahu Akbar....’’ the Azan had called for prayer a warning for the final feeding of the day in preparation for the next day fasting, so we hurriedly left the hospital.
Kudus to the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme (RTSSS), a Unit of the FRSC, that made it mandatory for all fleet operators to ensure telephone numbers of safety managers of such Transport companies are boldly written on the body of the vehicles. The number written on the bus assisted us to communicate with IMAD Transport Company and informed him of the crash they instantly sent their representative in the morning to take care of the victims.
Early in the morning I reported to the office and deemed it fit to check on the victims more especially the lady that was on critical condition. On reaching the Hospital I went straight to the bed where the lady was admitted, to my utmost surprise the bed looks discouraging being vacant and no one to ask. On inquiry at the nurse's station I was perplex on the answer I received that the lady gave up the ghost, and this left me dumb founded, tears were about rolling down my cheeks when suddenly I remembered I was in uniform and in company of my junior staff, yet I control myself and had to stood speechless for almost fifteen minutes.
As I stood there I was thinking about a promising young lady and in her prime age she could have been useful to the country, probably an Ambassador, Minister or honorable senator only God knows what dreams she has been nursing and what useful contributions to give to our father land Nigeria, but due to the negligence of the unconcern Truck driver the life of the lady was brought to an abrupt end. Probably if the Truck driver had not throw caution to the winds and observe safety by placing a reflective caution sign 100m away from his stationary truck to alert oncoming drivers of the dangers ahead the accident rather Road Traffic Crash would have been avoided and the lady’s life and that of the Bus driver whose children were probably waiting for school fees or new dresses for Sallah celebration would have been saved and probably actualize their dreams.
It is therefore pertinent to note that drivers should ensure driving on safe speed, exercise all the principle of defensive driving techniques and accommodate other motorist as their relation Road Traffic Crashes are avoidable. REMEMBER LIFE IS PRECIOUS AND SACRED!!!
It was the holy month of Ramadan which was the fasting period of the Muslim Faithfuls, the fasting that day 7 August 2010 was really hard for me, at about 19:15 hrs the breaking period came with joy where all kinds of fruits and drinks were taken including water to quench my thirst. I eat as a glutton and this made me to become weak. As I was resting after the ‘’Isha’’ prayer which is the last prayer of the day unknown to me I dozed off with all my hand sets by my side including the official rescue line. Suddenly there was a call that made me to jump and recover from the short but deep sleep, as I received the call without bothering to see the number or who calls; alas it was a distress call calling on me to assist ’’ Yakubu there is an ugly accident after the second bridge on Jega – yauri road kindly assist us please'’.
The call came at exactly 21:15hrs hurriedly I told my wife job has come till you see me. At that material time I was faced with problems of my staff scattered in different locations of the town and only one duty driver that is constantly engaged day and Night, the driver was communicated with but no Okada to convey him down to the office. I have no option than to drive my car and pick him rush to the office to pick some staff and move to the scene of the crash for rescue mission, we reached the scene at about 12:30hrs.
The crash involved a bus belonging to IMAD Transport Company and a Mercedes Benz truck all with registration number XA82EKY and XA54WAS, the bus left Lagos with three staff of the transport Company and a lady that was given a leapt heading for Sokoto to convey some wedding luggage’s of one of her relations before proceeding to Kaduna. She was enjoying the ride full of hope to accomplish the task ahead of her which is to ensure delivery of the items intact to the family. They made a stopover at Koko town where the three male passengers and the driver who were Muslims broke their fasting, and proceeded on the journey without any evil thought or danger crossing their minds. About three KM to Jega the driver of the bus came across a pot hole and wanted to dodge it unknown to him there was danger ahead a stationary truck that broke down right on the middle of road which suddenly gave the driver of the bus a kiss of death.
We were left with no option than to rescue the three injured persons; the driver died instantly and was trapped with all his legs in chunks of metals. The injuries sustained by the lady were severe and very critical we lay her motionless on the stretcher in pool of blood gushing out of her mouth, the three rescued victims were taken to Jega General Hospital at about 22:00hrs for further medical attention.
The rescue team was left with the most difficult task of extricating the trapped driver from the bus; the doors of the bus could not be opened as a result of the impact of the collusion even the other victims were rescued through the boot. Fire man axe was used to cut the angles but all in vain since the metals are very strong couple with the fact that the strength of the rescuers drained as a result of the effect of fasting. After several attempt an idea came just like a revelation “use tow rope” trucks and articulated vehicles passing were stopped and asked for a tow rope finally two ropes were gotten at about 2:30 am.
The two ropes were used, one tethered to the stationary breakdown truck and one to the trailer that volunteered to offer a helping hand in towing or dragging the bus backward to force the metals yield and give way to free the dead driver from the entrapment. The method was successful and came with a relief; the dead body was taken to Jega General Hospital mortuary. While at the emergency room of the Hospital I was sympathetic the way the rescued lady groans, shouts and was restless an indication that she has a serious head injury. I then asked the man on duty if the case is beyond what they can handle in order for us to assist move her to Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kebbi, for further medical attention, but my fear was put to rest that they can handle the situation. It was at this juncture I heard ‘’Allahu Akbar....’’ the Azan had called for prayer a warning for the final feeding of the day in preparation for the next day fasting, so we hurriedly left the hospital.
Kudus to the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme (RTSSS), a Unit of the FRSC, that made it mandatory for all fleet operators to ensure telephone numbers of safety managers of such Transport companies are boldly written on the body of the vehicles. The number written on the bus assisted us to communicate with IMAD Transport Company and informed him of the crash they instantly sent their representative in the morning to take care of the victims.
Early in the morning I reported to the office and deemed it fit to check on the victims more especially the lady that was on critical condition. On reaching the Hospital I went straight to the bed where the lady was admitted, to my utmost surprise the bed looks discouraging being vacant and no one to ask. On inquiry at the nurse's station I was perplex on the answer I received that the lady gave up the ghost, and this left me dumb founded, tears were about rolling down my cheeks when suddenly I remembered I was in uniform and in company of my junior staff, yet I control myself and had to stood speechless for almost fifteen minutes.
As I stood there I was thinking about a promising young lady and in her prime age she could have been useful to the country, probably an Ambassador, Minister or honorable senator only God knows what dreams she has been nursing and what useful contributions to give to our father land Nigeria, but due to the negligence of the unconcern Truck driver the life of the lady was brought to an abrupt end. Probably if the Truck driver had not throw caution to the winds and observe safety by placing a reflective caution sign 100m away from his stationary truck to alert oncoming drivers of the dangers ahead the accident rather Road Traffic Crash would have been avoided and the lady’s life and that of the Bus driver whose children were probably waiting for school fees or new dresses for Sallah celebration would have been saved and probably actualize their dreams.
It is therefore pertinent to note that drivers should ensure driving on safe speed, exercise all the principle of defensive driving techniques and accommodate other motorist as their relation Road Traffic Crashes are avoidable. REMEMBER LIFE IS PRECIOUS AND SACRED!!!
