Fuel tanker falls, kills motorist in Lagos

What could have become a major disaster in Lagos State was averted on Sunday after a loaded petroleum tanker fell and spilled its content in the Ikorodu area of the state.

However, a motorist, whose identity had yet to be ascertained, was crushed to death as his Hyundai Saloon car with number plate, KJA 421 AH, was mangled under the weight of the fallen tanker.

The driver was said to have been trapped inside the car and was unable to escape.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened around 3.30am at the Ikorodu Township Roundabout.

It was learnt that the tanker, which belonged to Forte Oil, was at top speed when the driver lost control at the roundabout, which led to the accident.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire Service, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigeria Police Force, were said to have brought the situation under control.

A LASEMA official said the agency arrived at the scene around 4am, adding that its emergency response team brought out the victim dead from the wreckage.

He said, “Preliminary report revealed that the truck was laden with 33,000 litres of petrol belonging to Forte Oil. While the driver was trying to turn at the roundabout, the truck fell on the Hyunda Saloon car, which had the driver as the only occupant. The man was trapped in the car.

“The prompt response of emergency responders and security operatives prevented the incident from escalating into a major fire disaster due to the spillage and the proximity of the scene to a filling station.

“The truck was carefully lifted upright, while the dead body was extricated by LASEMA men with the use of light duty equipment. There was nothing on him or in the car with which we could identify him.”

He said the vehicles were cleared off the road to allow for free flow of traffic, adding that the police later towed them away to the station.

The LASEMA General Manager, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, said proper investigation would be carried out into the cause of the accident by relevant government agencies.

“Motorists, especially articulated truck drivers, must avoid speeding and adhere to all traffic rules and regulations to avoid a recurrence,” he added.

The spokesperson for NEMA, South West Zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the victim’s corpse was deposited in the morgue of the Ikorodu General Hospital.

He said, “The operation was concluded without an explosion in any of the densely populated area where the PMS spilled into through the drainage channels.”