Ogun tanker fire claims three lives, six injured, five vehicles, two motorcycles burnt
…Gov Abiodun visits scene, bans articulated vehicles from flyover bridges
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Three people were confirmed dead, six injured with five vehicles and two motorcycles burnt when a petrol tanker said to be having brake failure lost control around GTB bank, IBB Boulevards, Kuto, Abeokuta early Tuesday morning bursting into flames.
According to eyewitness, the incident occurred around few minutes past 8am and was caused by brake failure on the part of the tanker.
The tanker fully loaded with petroleum was said to be coming from Sagamu and heading inside Abeokuta when it suffered brake failure while descending the newly constructed Kuto flyover bridge losing control after which it somersaulted and burst into flame.
Gov Dapo Abiodun accompanied by his deputy, Engr. Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi among other state officials have however visited the scene of the accident to assess the impact of the damage
Gov. Abiodun who commiserated with the victims of the unfortunate accident has however banned tankers and other articulated vehicles from plying overhead bridges in the State saying that anyone who flouts the order will be made to pay stiff penalty.
“Tanker drivers will no longer be allowed to use the bridges. Anything that has trailer behind it, be it trailers, flatbeds and other articulated vehicles of either 33 or 66 tons, are henceforth ban from using the bridges,” he ordered.
The Governor who recalled similar accident at Ota in 2019, also stated that the State would enforce road worthiness to ensure that articulated vehicles plying the State’s roads are worthy to avoid such future occurrences.
“We are going to enforce strict road worthiness on tankers and other articulated vehicles to ensure that they are mechanically good to use our roads,” the Governor noted.
On what caused the accident, the Governor said, “as at 8am, it was reported that a tanker coming from Sagamu and heading towards Abeokuta with full load of 33,000 litres of PMS, suffered break failure as it was descending the Kuto flyover.”
“The driver tried to warn people and in the process of trying to control the vehicle, it swerved across the median and collided with other vehicles and motorcycles and tumbled. Three instant fatalities were recorded, while six people suffered various degree of burns,” the Governor recalled.
He described the accident as an unfortunate event, saying that six of the injured, three each, have been admitted at the State Hospital Ijaye and Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, just as government has invited Burnt Specialists from Lagos to attend to those with severe burnt.
Prince Abiodun regretted that a bridge that was constructed to solve one problem, has ended up creating another, adding that the State government would carry out a comprehensive and well thought out plan aimed at tackling the menace.
While commiserating with the families of those who lost their loved ones, Governor Abiodun pledged that his administration would ensure that those who sustained injuries are well taken care off and those whose properties were affected are assisted to ameliorate their losses.
The Governor also visited the injured at the State Hospital Ijaye and the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.
