Third Mainland Bridge crash: “I was not speeding” – Driver

Contrary to reports by traffic officials that the driver of the car that skidded off the Third Mainland bridge and fell into the Lagoon on Saturday 26th January 2013, was over speeding has been debunked by the lone occupant.

While narrating his experience, Mr. Olusola Oladimeji, the driver and owner of the Toyota Sienna who miraculously survived and was rescued by fishermen who were around the area at the time of the accident said he was not speeding when the accident occurred.

The father of three who is a minister of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, said he was on his way home from work when the incident occurred.

He said, “I work on the island and I left home for a meeting in the early hours of Saturday. After the monthly environmental sanitation, I started driving back home. I was driving at the speed of 60km/hr and was on the fast lane because the road was free. At Ebute Meta bypass, I saw two vehicles that had been involved in an accident but I kept on driving. Suddenly, everything went blank, I couldn’t see anything again, and I just found myself in the water.”

“I was not on high speed. When the car hit the railing of the bridge, the airbag was not released. After falling into the water, I unfastened the seat belt and noticed that one of the doors of my car had broken off, so I swam out of the vehicle to the surface of the water even though I don’t know how to swim. It was while I was waving my hand that fishermen saw me and quickly came to my aid. They took me away from the scene and took me to a clinic located on the water where they administered the first aid.”

It was learnt that Oladimeji was later taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital where an X-ray scan was conducted on him.

“The doctors said that my leg was not fractured. They, however, cast my leg with Plaster of Paris because I had a sprain,” he said.

A pastor at MFM, Berkeley Parish, Mrs. Praise Onanuga, who attributed the miraculous escape of Oladimeji to the existence of God said the victim had just bought the car eight days before the accident.

Mrs. Onanuga said, “Brother Oladimeji is the leader of prophetic group and a house fellowship coordinator. He was supposed to have been at a vigil with us the night before but he begged to be excused because of the meeting he was to have on Saturday.

“He bought the car just eight days before the accident and we were supposed to do the dedication today (Sunday) but we thank God that we were not put to shame.

“We will hold a thanksgiving for him soon because this is indeed a miracle.”