The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of two persons while six others sustained injuries in an accident involving 17 vehicles at the old Toll Gate, Sango-Ota, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, told NAN in Abuja, that the accident happened at about 12.54am on Friday.
“As at 12.54am, the situation of the fire outrage involving the burning tanker on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Ota close to ShopRite, Ogun State, has been contained by the assistance of fire service at the old Toll Gate, Ota,” he said.
Kazeem said that eight persons were involved in the accident in which two persons died and six others sustained various degrees of injuries.
“We have deposited the corpses at hospital morgue. Rescue operations still ongoing. Some casualties still alive with burnt injuries evacuated for medical attention.
“The situation is under control. We are working with all sister agencies to restore normalcy. Traffic has been diverted.
“Alternative routes have been announced using electronic and social media broadcast and posting on traffic platforms for vehicles inward Lagos to go through under the bridge at Sango pending when the obstructions are fully cleared.
“Men have been deployed to control traffic at Toll Gate. Vehicles inward Abeokuta are going through Ilo Awela road to emerge at Sango,” he said.
Kazeem said that the FRSC office in Ota earlier under fears of being razed by the fire outbreak was no longer under threat.
He said that the Unit Commander of FRSC, Ota, was at the scene of the accident coordinating the rescue operations and reinforcing men and materials.
In similar vein, Ganiyu Akeem, FRSC Assistant Corps Commander in Ota, said the incident happened when the lone tanker fell and spilled its inflammable content into the drainage channel.
He said the tanker ignited the fire that burnt many vehicles.
Akeem said 17 vehicles were affected, which included one tanker trailer, 10 articulated vehicles, three cars and three commercial buses.
Furthermore, Adekunle Ajibade, an official of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), stated that the fuel-laden truck was heading to Lagos from Sango-Ota when it developed a gear fault and overturned in the process.
“The driver was trying to change the gear of the vehicle and lost control.
“The truck overturned and caught fire immediately,’’ Ajibade said.
