Deborah Akinyosoye
Six vehicles were burnt, while no fewer than two people sustained severe injuries after a petrol-laden tanker exploded opposite the NASFAT junction along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway leaving motorists stranded on Wednesday.
NigeriaTodayTimes learnt that the tanker was trying to make a U-turn at the junction when it overturned.
An eyewitness who refused to disclose his identity revealed that when the tanker overturned, it spilt its content and later caught fire.
The eyewitness said, “The tanker was trying to make a turn when it fell to its side and spilt the petrol before catching fire.”
The fire accident also led to traffic disruption on both sides of the expressway as vehicles were held to a standstill.
Confirming the incident in a traffic update sent to our correspondent, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed that two people suffered severe injuries.
He added that six vehicles, including four trucks, one bus and Toyota Camry were involved in the crash.
He said, “Two male casualties at the scene of tanker that caught fire at NAFSAT along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The casualties have been taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital by the OGSAES.”
In a further update, he added, “The earlier reported casualties cannot be taken to the OOUTH as reported due to heavy traffic. They have been taken to FAMOBIS Hospital at Lotto.”
Meanwhile, a similar tanker fall occurred along the same expressway on Wednesday and held motorists in a gridlock.
It was gathered that a fuel tanker fell on one side of the road while an 18-tyre truck conveying stones fell on the other side.
The incident occurred at noon close to the Ogere bridge.
There was a heavy presence of law enforcement agents at the scene, including firefighters of the Ogun State Fire Service.
Drivers said they spent over an hour in the traffic as some attempted other alternative routes.
A police officer who didn’t want to be identified because he was not authorised to speak with the media said that the fuel in the fallen tanker had been evacuated while efforts were ongoing to lift the vehicle from the road as of 3 pm.
The content of the other truck was being transferred into another truck as of the time of filing this report.