A tragedy occurred on the newly rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge, when a fully loaded 20-seater commercial bus hit the railings, sending two passengers into the Lagoon.

According to an eyewitness, who identified himself as AKINOLA ADENIYI, the tragedy occurred at about 11.30 am yesterday.

He said the commercial bus en route to the Island from Iyana-Oworo suddenly hit the railings on the bridge.

ADENIYI attributed the cause of the accident to excessive speeding on the part of the driver of the ill-fated vehicle.

Director of Public Affairs of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), TAOFIK ADEBAYO said 18 passengers who were seriously injured were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.

ADEBAYO said that the Marine rescue team went inside the Lagoon on a search-and-rescue mission to see if any of the passengers who fell inside could be rescued.

He added that the bus driver ran away after the accident.