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About eight people lost their lives in a fire on Tuesday when an articulated truck hit a loaded petrol tanker on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The accident occurred at Onigari village, close to the Foursquare Gospel Church Camp at Ajebo, Ogun State.
The tanker, carrying 33,000 litres of petrol, was said to be travelling to Ibadan, while the container truck was heading for Lagos, when the accident occurred. The accident occurred at a point where traffic was diverted to a single lane.
The Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Babatunde Akinbiyi, told PUNCH that the tanker caught fire because the petrol in it poured out after the container truck hit it by the side.
“Eight persons have been confirmed dead in the inferno; they were burnt beyond recognition. The victims were passengers inside the container truck.”, he said.
The FRSC Route Commander, Florence Okpe, said seven persons were killed in the accident, adding that their corpses were deposited in FON Mortuary, Ipara.
Okpe, who spoke for the Sector Commander, Clement Oladele, explained that the accident was caused by wrongful overtaking.
She said, “The accident occurred around 11.25am near Sandcrete, within the five kilometre radius where RCC diverted traffic to enable repairs of the weakened bridges around the sections of the expressway.
“Three vehicles were involved, including a black Toyota Yaris, with the number plate, MUS 46 EA, a MACK truck and a DAF truck. The number plates of the other two trucks are unknown.
“A total of 12 people were involved in the accident. While seven adult males were killed, one was injured. The FRSC team, assisted by other traffic and emergency agencies, removed the burnt corpses of the crash victims which were deposited in the morgue. The crash scene has been cleared for free flow of traffic.
“The FRSC reiterates the need for motorists to exercise caution and obey the traffic signs erected on this segment of the road which may remain till June 2018 before the repairs are completed and the road open to traffic.
“Travellers are also advised to refrain from travelling inside containers, as the seven burnt victims were inside the container of the truck which caused the crash as it embarked on dangerous overtaking at the portion where traffic was diverted and collided with oncoming vehicles.”