By Emegwoako C. Paschal
On Thursday October 20th morning, ten people were killed by a tanker explosion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Araromi.
Ahmed Umar, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ogun, confirmed the incident to reporters in Abeokuta.
According to Umar, the accident happened near Conoil in Araromi, just before the Sagamu Interchange on the expressway.
He claims that five vehicles were destroyed in the raging inferno. He claimed that the victims of the accidents had been burned beyond recognition.
According to him, the vehicles involved in the accident are: a Mack truck with the registration number AKL 198 ZT; an Iveco truck with no registration number; a Mazda bus with the registration number FFE 361 XB; an unmarked Howo truck; and the Mack tanker.
He blamed the accident on the driver of the Iveco truck, saying, “The driver of the Iveco truck, who was traveling at top speed, lost control and rammed into the tanker, resulting in a fire outbreak due to leakage.”
He went on to say that the Mazda bus was engulfed by fire and that all of those who died were on board.
“The suspected cause of the multiple crashes was excessive speed, which caused the Iveco truck to lose control and smashed the tanker body, resulting in a fire outbreak due to leakage.”
“The Mazda bus was consumed by the spark of the fire,” Umar explained.
He went on to say that the deceased had been taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu.
After visiting the accident site, Umar expressed his condolences to the victims’ families.
He advised drivers to drive cautiously, obey traffic rules and regulations, and consider other road users.
Earlier, the FRSC had advised motorists and the general public to take alternate routes on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway due to a tanker explosion near Araromi Town before the Interchange.
“The rescue operation continues,” Umar said, adding that “the people involved have yet to be confirmed because a bus is also involved.”
“The crash site was cordoned off to prevent a secondary crash because traffic was diverted.
“Firefighters have arrived on the scene and are working to extinguish the fire.” “To alleviate traffic congestion, traffic has been temporarily diverted at the Lufuwape U-turn.”
“The sector commander advised motorists to remain calm and cooperate with traffic controllers,” he said.
