How tanker accident killed four, locked down Lagos yesterday

Four people died yesterday in a multiple accident  on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Six vehicles were razed in the accident, which occurred around 3a.m. It was said to have been caused by a diesel-laden tanker, which went out of control and rammed into a truck carrying beer. A huge fire was ignited. The other vehicles rammed into them. It all happened around Kara Bus Stop in Isheri Osun on the Ibadan-bound part of the ever-busy expressway.

The driver of the tanker and his “motor boys” were burnt. A victim who dived into the lagoon in a bid to put out the fire on his body got drowned, eyewitnesses said. Other burnt vehicles are two containerised trucks, two trailers, the tanker and a Toyota Corolla saloon.

As emergency workers battled to contain the Kara disaster, another petrol tanker fell at the Berger end of the Otedola Bridge. This compounded the traffic jam that had spread for as long as eyes could see —far beyond the old Lagos toll gate. The gridlock extended to Ikorodu Road towards Maryland, forcing traffic diversion.

Although the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) insisted that only three persons died, independent sources put the casualty figure at four.

A decomposed body was found floating in the lagoon. LASEMA General Manager Adesina Tiamiyu said: “Recovery operations of burnt vehicles with LASEMA’s heavy duty equipment ongoing to abate gridlock, which has built up on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Traffic has affected almost every part of the expressway and Ikorodu road up to Alapere and Ogudu.

“Road users, especially articulated truck drivers, are advised to avoid overspeeding and adhere to safety regulations while plying the road so as to forestall avoidable disasters. Investigation on the incident would be carried out by appropriate authorities at the scene.” NEMA Southwest Coordinator Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu said the intervention of firemen, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps minimised the casualty.

According to Yakubu, a driver of one of the vehicles sustained a minor injury. Others were unhurt. NEMA Southwest spokesman Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed that six vehicles  – a car, three containers and two tankers – were involved in the accident.

Scores of people were trekking long distances on the expressway because vehicular traffic was stuck for the greater part of the day. Many workers living on the outskirts of Lagos, who must travel on the expressway to get to work failed to make it. Those trekking were people living in Ibafo, Mowe, Warewa, Magboro, Prayer City area and Arepo in Ogun  State, working or going to Lagos.