Accident victim out of a coma, relatives missing

An accident victim, who had been in a coma for about two weeks after an auto crash on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State, has finally woken up.

It was gathered that the victim identified himself as 19-year-old Owolabi Akindujoye, a bus conductor who usually slept under a bridge in the Oshodi area of the state before the incident.

Akindujoye, who reportedly had started feeding himself since he came round on Tuesday, is an indigene of Ondo State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that none of his relatives had, however, shown up, which had become a source of concern to St. Nicholas Hospital, a private medical facility in the state where he had been receiving treatment.

PUNCH Metro had reported that an accident occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge in which about 14 passengers were injured.

Our correspondent reported that the victims were rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

However, there was a follow-up report that two of the victims were taken to St. Nicholas Hospital, by a Good Samaritan who rescued them from the scene of the crash.

The management of the hospital had said while one of the victims had been identified and visited by his relatives, the second had been unconscious in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital and no relative had come forward.

PUNCH Metro learnt from the administration manager of the hospital, Kunle Bamigboye, on Thursday that the patient had finally come round.

Bamigboye said aside identifying himself as a bus conductor, he also identified his mother as Mrs. Ramot Akindujoye, a herbal trader.

He said, “We initially thought he was a student, but when he woke up, he said he was a bus conductor and was sleeping under the bridge in Oshodi before the incident.

“He identified his siblings as Emmanuel, Matthew, Suleiman and Usman. Unfortunately, none of his family members have shown up. But he is recovering already and can also feed himself.”

When our correspondent asked to speak with the victim, he was said to be asleep.

But an official of the hospital explained that his condition had become stable.

He stated that the patient could be discharged any moment from the facility, adding that the hospital just wanted his relations to show up so he would be in safe hands after discharge.

PUNCH Metro learnt the hospital treated Akindujoye as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and had no intention of burdening his relatives with medical bills.

Source: Punch