Tanker crushes 10 vehicles in Abeokuta

Tragedy was averted in
Abeokuta, Ogun State,
yesterday when a tanker
loaded with fuel crushed 10
vehicles in a row, after the
driver lost of control of the
truck.

Investigations at the
scene of the accident, in
Ijaiye area of the town,
revealed that the problem
started at about 10am when
the tanker driver was
manoeuvring his way into the
Oando Petrol Station to off-
load his cargo.
As the driver was about
driving into the station,
located in a hilly area, the
truck suddenly developed a
brake failure, causing the
vehicle to descended to the
major and busy Ijaiye Road.
The driver began shouting on
top of his voice to intimate
residents, passersby and
motorists about the looming
calamity.

As they heard him, people ran
helter-skelter for safety and
motorists immediately ran
out of their various vehicles.
Several of these vehicles
were crushed by the tanker,
but no life was lost.
As at the time of visiting the
scene, the driver of the
tanker was said to have taken
to his heels, apparently to
avoid any possible attack by
owners of the destroyed
vehicles.

Taiwo Samson, the head of
the state road transport
management agency, the
Rescue, Traffic Compliance
and Enforcement Corp
(TRACE), who led his team to
the scene, said the team
immediately contacted the
State Fire Services.
“We got a telephone call and
had to race down here,” he
said “It was on getting here
we discovered the havoc the
truck had caused. But luckily
for all, nobody was killed in
the accident.” At the scene,
staff of the fire services
were on standby to prevent
any outbreak of fire, while
the road was also blocked.

Rasheed Sowole, a
transporter in the area, said
the incident showed the need
by the government to
discourage people from
parking vehicles they intend
to sell, on roadsides.
He said such vehicles
contributed to the confusion
of the truck driver, who was
trying to avoid them before
he lost control of the truck.