Breaking News

2 die, 3 injured, 12 vehicles burnt in Ota tanker explosion

Two persons had been burnt beyond recognition, while three others sustained injuries when a tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or petrol) exploded at Ilo-Awela Junction, at Toll Gate area on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

A total of 12 vehicles, comprising three luxurious buses, four tricycles, three motorcycles and a yellow bus, were involved in the unfortunate incident.

The Ogun Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Ahmed Umar, said that the incident happened at about 1.30a.m. on Thursday.

Umar explained that the tanker laden with PMS was ascending from Ilo-Awela to Toll-Gate area, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, when it lost control due to mechanical fault, fell in the process and went into flame.

Umar said that the corpses of the victims had been deposited at State Hospital, Ota, while the survivors, including two males and a female, are also receiving treatment at the same hospital.

He said that the personnel of Fire Service were contacted immediately and the area had been cordoned to prevent any secondary crash.

The sector commander said that the FRSC personnel and other sister agencies were on ground to control gridlock and to ease free flow of traffic in the area.

He advised tanker owners to install safety valves and ensure that their vehicles were in condition before putting them on the road to avert unnecessary mishaps.

The Public Education Officer of FRSC, Ogun sector command, Florence Okpe, told journalists that the tanker was ascending the Ilo-Awela slope, adjoining the Abeokuta-Lagos section of the expressway, when it fell at about 1:30a.m., spilled its content and went up in flames.

According to her, five persons were involved in the accident, while three were seriously injured and two killed.

She attributed the cause of the accident to mechanical deficiency, saying “while the tanker was ascending the vehicle rolled back and got hooked. The content spilled off and there was fire outbreak.”

“Men of the fire service were contacted immediately and the area was cordoned off to prevent a secondary crash,” Okpe said.

The Star

Editor

Recent Posts

Zenith Bank, Int’l Breweries, NNPC, Others Shine at 2024 SERAS Awards

It was a night of glitz, glamour and celebration at the 18th edition of the…

7 hours ago

Tinubu felicitates Christians on Christmas, says Nigeria on path of restoration

President Bola Tinubu has felicitated Christians on Christmas celebration in the country, saying the nation…

7 hours ago

Uba Sani inaugurates 12 road projects on Xmas Eve

Governor Uba Sani has inaugurated 12 asphaltic roads  within Kaduna metropolis on Tuesday, 10 months…

8 hours ago

Court sends oil magnate to prison for diverting $26m refinery fund

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded the Founder and Chairman of Platform…

8 hours ago

Minister’s aide to MURIC: Wike not running FCTA based on religion

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Federal Capital…

9 hours ago

NIWA warns Nigerians: Avoid rickety boats,  drunk operators

...Oyebamiji advocates Passage Of Coast Guards Bill The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has again…

10 hours ago

This website uses cookies.