The Lagos Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has blamed speeding for a tanker crash that triggered a fire beneath Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The accident involved a diesel-laden tanker, occurred at about 4:10 pm on Monday along the expressway’s outward-bound carriageway.
In a statement, Elizabeth Jayeola, the sector command’s public education officer, said the tanker plunged into the underpass beneath Otedola Bridge, resulting in a fire.
She added that the FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene at 4:20 pm, five minutes after the incident was reported to the agency at 4:15 pm.
“A lone crash involving a diesel-laden tanker on the outward section of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway plunged the tanker into the underpass beneath Otedola Bridge, triggering a raging inferno today, at approximately 4:10 p.m.
“The incident underscores the potentially catastrophic consequences of excessive speed, particularly among operators of heavy-duty vehicles transporting petroleum products,” the statement said.
It said preliminary findings identified speeding as the reported cause of the incident, which involved a single tanker.
It said two adult male occupants sustained injuries and were taken to the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre for medical attention, while no fatalities were recorded in the initial crash report.
“FRSC personnel worked alongside operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Police and other emergency responders in coordinated efforts to contain the blaze, manage traffic and reduce the risk of further harm to road users and surrounding infrastructure,” it said.
The FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, while reacting to the accident, said speeding remained a serious threat to road users’ safety, particularly when heavy-duty vehicles are involved.
The sector commander further advised motorists approaching emergency scenes to reduce speed, maintain a safe distance, obey traffic control instructions and avoid obstructing rescue personnel. Members of the public are also cautioned against gathering near burning tankers or attempting to approach the scene to take photographs or videos.