Driver and motorcyclist killed in tanker accident in Ogun

At least three people, including the driver, Salau Semiu, and his assistant, known as Saheed, were killed in a fatal accident involving a petrol tanker at Imope village in Oru Ijebu along the Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan expressway in Ogun State.

As our correspondent learned from the State Police Command on Saturday night, the accident occurred on Saturday at around 9:30 a.m., when the driver of the tanker truck with the registration number T 623 LA X lost control of his vehicle.

According to police, the truck was loaded with 45,000 litres of premium motor spirit (also called petrol) and was en route from a depot in Lagos to Oyo State when it veered off the road and overturned, causing an explosion.

As PUNCH Online learned, three people were killed in the explosion resulting from the accident: the driver, his assistant and an unidentified passenger.

Ogun State Police spokesman, Omolola Odutola, said: “The truck was carrying 45,000 litres of petrol from Pinnacle Petrol Depot in Lagos and was heading from Ijebu Ode towards Ibadan, Oyo State.

“We launched an investigation into the accident. The Oru Divisional Police Officer visited the scene and mobilised traffic personnel to stop vehicular traffic. He also called in the Ogun State Fire Service, which responded quickly and was able to douse the inferno.

“Documentary photographs were taken while the bodies of Salau Semiu and Saheed were being taken to the State General Hospital mortuary. Emergency services, Federal Road Safety Corps, OGS TRACE and other security forces were mobilized to bring the situation under control and clear the road.”

PUNCH Online reports that a similar accident was averted when a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of PMS crashed at Odo-Sede in Akeja area along the Osi-Ikola in Ota.

The tanker, which also came from Lagos, overturned while climbing a hill and tipped over on its side on Akeja Road.