On Sunday, a gasoline-filled tanker collided with a sport utility vehicle on the Long Bridge axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and exploded.
A group of emergency responders, including police officers, members of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, and the State Fire and Safety Service, were on the scene when the event occurred.
Due to some vehicles going against traffic to avoid the fire, the incident also resulted in gridlock along the axis.
The driver of the SUV was traveling at high speed as he attempted to pass several other vehicles, according to an eyewitness. He immediately managed to pass three cars; however, the tanker was already in the lane when he attempted to swerve back to the left, which is how the car collided with it.
“I was in the fast lane near the edge of the road when the motorist was attempting to overtake,. He ran into my tyre after passing a few cars. I lost control during this process, which led me to climb the curb. The tanker flipped over and caught fire in this manner,” he claimed.
He told the police that his tyre burst and caused him to crash into me. I am awaiting the owner of the tanker.
Ahmed Umar, the Ogun State Sector Commander, FRSC, said that a tyre rupture was the cause of the tragedy.
“The SUV’s punctured tyre caused it to lose control, swerve in the direction of the tanker, and cause the catastrophe. Our officials, who were manning the corridor, managed to save the two adults and two children who were in the tanker,” he said.
Unit Commandant of TRACE for the OPIC and MFM axis, Ojo Oloye, said, “Firemen have made an effort to douse the flames. They have gone to restock after running out of water. Together with the police and FRSC authorities, our troops are attempting to manage the traffic,” the official said.