The driver of a diesel-laden tanker has died after the vehicle exploded in Edo State on Friday.
WuzupNaija gathered that two others were injured and eight vehicles burnt in the incident, which occurred along the Benin-Lagos road around 5 am.
It was further gathered that the tanker driver had attempted to avoid a head-on collision with a Mercedes Benz wagon car, which was loaded with bags of rice. The tanker, however, fell and spilled its content which sparked the explosion.
The Benz was said to have been driving against traffic.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker driver was trapped and when the fire started help could not reach him.
Prompt arrival of Fire Service men from different stations helped to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
The accident caused heavy traffic congestion and increased transport fare as commuters were made to pay N150 instead of N100 from New Benin area to Ugbowo.
Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who was at the scene of the accident, said drivers should always obey traffic rules.
“From what I have been told here, somebody was driving against traffic and that is what has resulted to this accident.
“We should maintain our lanes and the immediate thing we have to do here now, is to first evacuate and check the essence of damage and the government will take it from there.
“But I think we need a lot of public enlightenment programmes to educate our commuters on how to obey traffic rules and also stop moving against traffic because that is what I was told caused this accident”, he said.
According to The Nation, the Chairman of Egor Local Government Area, Ms. Eghe Ogbemudia, said she arrived the scene at about 5:30 am.
“The fire service from the different locations have really helped us.
“I just want to use this opportunity to advise our road users mostly our drivers to stop driving on one-way because that is what caused this accident.
“Somebody was driving in the opposite direction when this truck was coming and the truck man lost control, that is what the eyewitnesses said,” she said.
Assistant Corp Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corp, (FRSC) Sabina Musa, said the tanker wanted to avoid a head-on collision but lost control as he tried to swerve.
“And if you see the direction of the vehicle, you will know that a lot of things are wrong with both drivers and this accident could be avoided but it has happened, the driver of the vehicle was trapped.
“The number of persons involved in the accident are three, all male adults. Two were taken to the hospital but one is dead. The one that is trapped inside the tanker vehicle,” she said.
