It was a tragic scene yesterday, as 10 people were burnt beyond recognition in a tanker explosion, which occurred in Obafemi-Owode Local Council of Ogun State.
The accident, which occurred around Conoil before Sagamu interchange, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, led to heavy gridlock on the busy highway as inbound Lagos traffic was diverted to Mowe -Ofada-Owode-Interchange route, while motorists leaving Lagos to Sagamu- Benin Expressway were advised to use Epe-Ijebu-ode route.
The crash involved five vehicles, including a Mack truck with registration number: AKL 198 ZT, an Iveco truck with no registration number, a Mazda bus marked, FFE 361 XB, an unmarked Howo truck and the Mack tanker.
A spokesperson for Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the incident, said 10 people were confirmed to be involved in the avoidable fatal crash and that they were burnt to death, beyond recognition.
He said some of those burnt to the deceased have been recovered and taken to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), morgue, Sagamu,
Also, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun Sector Command, Florence Okpe told newsmen in Abeokuta, that the multiple auto crash was caused by an over-speeding White Iveco truck, which lost control while in motion, ramming into a stationary petrol laden tanker in front of Conoil filling station and ignited fire after spilling its content on the road.
According to her, the driver of the truck, which was travelling at the top speed lost control and rammed into the tanker, which resulted in a fire outbreak due to leakage.
The Mazda bus, which was coming from Lagos got engulfed in the spark of the fire.
“The Sector Commander FRSC Ogun Sector Command, Ahmed Umar has commiserated with the families of the victims after visiting the scene of the incident.
“He (Umar) also advised motorists to drive cautiously, obey traffic rules and regulations as well as consider each other while driving,” Okpe added.
