Oritsebugbemi Omatseyin
Lagos — Two persons have been burnt to death while three others sustained injuries as a petrol-laden tanker exploded at Ilo Awela axis, Sango Tollgate, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
A total of 12 vehicles along its track were affected, including three luxury buses, four tricycles, three motorcycles, a bus, and a tanker.
The accident occurred around 01:30 AM as the tanker driver was laboring to ascend a hilly section of the Ilo Awele slope adjoining the Abeokuta – Lagos stretch of the expressway but rolled backward, fell, and burst into flame.
The spokesman for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State Command, Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta.
Florence Okpe attributed the cause of the accident to a mechanical fault saying that while the tanker was ascending, the vehicle rolled back and got hooked, making the content spill and leading to a fire outbreak.
She said, “FRSC carried out a rescue operation at about 1:30 am Thursday involving a Tanker laden with PMS while ascending Ilo Awela slope adjoining Abeokuta– Lagos section of the expressway, fell and went into flame”.
“Men of the fire service were contacted immediately, and the area was cordoned off to prevent a secondary crash,”
“A total of 12 vehicles were involved, which comprised three luxury buses, four tricycles, three motorcycles, one yellow bus, and a tanker.”
“A total of three persons were rescued to Ota General Hospital (two male adults and one female adult), seriously burnt.
“Two bodies burnt beyond recognition have been evacuated from the scene.
“The suspected cause of the multiple crashes was mechanical deficiency. While ascending, the vehicle rolled back and got hooked. The content spilled off and there was a fire outbreak.”
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