Tragedy as Petroleum tanker falls in Ile-Ife

By Jeleel Olawale

A petroleum tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol was on Monday fell down along Fajuyi road, close to Ilesa motor park in Ile-Ife.

The petrol tanker, belonging to BOVAS filling station, was going to Moore Area to offload the petrol when it suddenly collapsed and fell down.

When our correspondent visited the scene of the incident, discovered that the tanker driver was hale and healthy as he did not sustain any injury. No casualty was recorded.

Our correspondent found that petrol was all over the place where the incident occured. The place of the accident had been cordoned off by men and officers of police and Civil Defence Corps.

Speaking with one of the eyewitnesses who didn’t want his name in print, he said, the petroleum tanker suddenly fell in an attempt to cross to a road leading to Moore Area where the filling station was located.

“The tanker was loaded with petrol going to its filling station to offload it but suddenly fell down. We thank God that no life and property were lost. The driver did not sustain injury.”

In an interview with the Chairman, Ife Central Local Government, Barrister Rotimi Adeyenuwo, said the tanker had an upsord in the tire and it fell while the petrol was leaking making the area unpassable by the road users.

“The Fire Service Officers were deployed to the scene of the incident. People prevented some individuals from extracting petrol from the tanker to prevent a fire incident. There is nothing we can do now to rescue the situation only to disallow people from getting petrol from the tanker. I am here now to assess the situation.

“Maybe the tanker driver was speeding in that area because the road was sloppy and it had a dangerous edge,” he said.

He advised tanker and heavy truck drivers to be wary of that area when they are passing. He also urged the people in the area to be vigilant and leave the place as quickly as possible because the flame alone can envelop that area which may cause casualties.