Two persons have been killed and 29 vehicles burnt in a tanker explosion that occurred at Kara Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday.
This was disclosed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday via a statement issued by the agency’s inspokesman, Bisi Kazeem.
The Corps Marshal,Boboye Oyeyemi who described the incident as unfortunate but avoidable said effort are in place to end tanker explosion.
” The Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has described as unfortunate but avoidable, the fatal crash that occurred today Saturday 7 November 2020 at Kara bridge on the outward Lagos lane of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, stating that frantic efforts are already in place to put an end to tanker explosions.”
“From the crash investigation report submitted, a total of 2 male adults were killed and burnt beyond recognition, while a wanton destruction of properties occasioned by the fire also left 29 vehicles parked by the roadside burnt down completely,” the statement partly read.
On the remote cause of the accident, the agency said the investigation revealed that the tanker driver “lost control of the wheels as a result of mechanical deficiency (tyre blow out) making the tanker fall on the expressway amidst a wild inferno.”
Oyeyemi also lamented the actions of hoodlums who prevented the combined rescue teams of the Federal Fire Service and FRSC from approaching the scene of the crash.
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According to him, “when our personnel got to the scene, they met teams of Lagos State Fire Service who advised our men against approaching the scene of the crash. The firefighters said they were equally deployed to the scene for some reason but on arrival, they were chased back by some hoodlums, carrying dangerous weapons”. Both teams had to run to the Isheri Division of Nigeria Police for security cover.
The Corps Marshal also maintained that the Corps is seriously engaging critical stakeholders and making frantic efforts to find a lasting solution to tanker explosions on the road .
He called on the Governments at all levels to expedite action towards working out modalities that will support and hasten existing efforts towards fleet renewal as most of the articulated vehicles are aged while efforts are on to enforce compulsory use of safety valves to prevent spillage after falls of tankers.
