I attempted suicide five times after hit-and-run driver crushed my leg

[Esther ogunseemi]

My name is Faridah Busari, I am 29 years old and from Offa, Kwara State. However, I currently live in Lagos where I work as an events planner. The incident took place on February 11, 2023, during an event on Lagos Island that I was running late for. As I made my way to the event, I received several phone calls from the coordinator wondering why I was delayed. I had to keep him and the other people updated on my progress.

When I arrived on the Island because I was already running late, I decided not to use the pedestrian bridge. Instead, I saw that the traffic light was red and all vehicles had stopped, so I took the opportunity to cross the road. Just as I was about to cross, a friend who we were supposed to move together called to check on my location, and I told her I was already nearby and only needed to cross the road.

As I was crossing after ending the call, I saw a bus driver speeding towards me, breaking the traffic rules. The bus hit me, causing me to fall and lose consciousness. Witnesses said part of me was stuck on the bus as the driver refused to stop, which led to serious injuries, including bruises on my face.

What was the driver’s reaction?

Eyewitnesses said the driver later stopped around the tollgate and ran away; thankfully, the kind people who witnessed the accident rushed me to the hospital. They mentioned that the first vehicle they tried refused to convey me to the hospital because the driver thought I was dead, and he said he did not want to have issues with the police, but later they saw a vehicle that conveyed me to the nearest hospital. When I arrived at the hospital, I was admitted to the emergency room and given several injections.
When I woke up, I was surprised to find myself in a hospital bed and tried to move my body but I couldn’t because of the pain. My left leg was broken and the heel of my right leg was peeled off, and there were multiple bruises on my body. The doctor asked for a contact number, and I provided my best friend’s number. When she didn’t answer, the doctor said they couldn’t proceed with my treatment without the presence of any of my family members, and that was when I gave my mother’s number to the doctor. The doctor called my mother and informed her; that when she arrived at the hospital with my brother, they made some payment for my treatment to continue.

However, on February 14, 2023, I underwent surgery on my leg and the doctor assured me that I should not fall into depression and I would eventually be able to function normally. I was hospitalised for two weeks, with my mother, and brother by my side all through. It was a challenging time, but I remained strong for my family. I am grateful for the doctors and nurses at the hospital who provided excellent care, making me realise the value of the money we spent on my treatment. My friends also contributed financially, which allowed us to cover the medical expenses.

Were you able to walk after the surgery?

Afterward, I relied on crutches to move around as I couldn’t stand for months. A nurse always visited our home daily then to tend to my injuries, with treatment costs paid every two days. The pain was constant during the period, but I persevered.

What about the driver, did you later see him?

The hit-and-run driver later came to visit me in the hospital because his bus was taken to the police station, and the police instructed him to come to the hospital and cover the bills. However, when he came, he didn’t do much but he apologised for the incident and explained that it was not intentional.