Three feared dead as tanker falls, catches fire in Ogun

Three persons were feared dead as a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of premium motor spirit, popularly known as petrol, fell and caught fire on Wednesday at Ogere axis along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The casualties were said to be the driver of the tanker and two other passengers who were with him in the vehicle.

The three occupants of the tanker were said to have been trapped and burnt in the inferno.

The accident scene was said to be close to Kyakyama filling station, Ogere while the tanker was said to be on his way to Ibadan.

Reports from the accident scene indicated that the tanker driver drove recklessly which caused him to lose control of the vehicle and it fell on its side.

A white bus said to have been parked close to the scene was also burnt, as the raging fire from the tanker caught it.

The Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Mr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident, adding that eyewitnesses said three persons were trapped in the tanker and burnt.

He said the accident led to gridlock on that axis of the road, forcing the diversion of the traffic to the other lane.

He said, “Our operatives who were at the scene of the accident said it was a lone accident involving a tanker laden with fuel.

“The driver was said to have driven in a recklessly which caused him to lose control of the vehicle and it fell in the process and caught fire.

“Three persons were said to be inside the tanker -the driver and two others. They were said to have been trapped in the vehicle.

“The tanker fire caught another white bus parked nearby and burnt it too.”

Akinbiyi said the number plate of the tanker was not available but he gave that of the white bus as KMY 759 ZY.

The State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Clement Oladele, who also confirmed the incident, said firefighters from Sagamu, were contacted to put out the fire.

As at 7.41pm, the FRSC boss said spirited efforts were still being made to put out the fire.

He said he could not confirm yet if there was any casualty until after the operation has been completed.

He said, “The raging fire from.the tanker has subsided considerably, and we are trying to manage the traffic.

“It is true that another white bus was burnt by the raging fire from the tanker. But for now, I cannot say anything about the casualties, not until we complete the operation.”

But the traffic here with other traffic and security agencies were able to manage the gridlock which resulted after the accident.

PUNCH