Driver Dies, Explosions Averted As Fuel, Diesel Tankers Fall In Lagos

The Nation reports that a truck driver yesterday died in Lagos.

The driver died after ramming his articulated vehicle into a petroleum tanker on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The incident occurred at Mobil Filling Station, outward Lagos around 9am.

It was gathered that the truck with registration number LSR69YE lost control and rammed into the tanker with number GWN-597XA at Mobil filling from behind.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the truck driver died on the spot.

LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the driver was trapped and was extricated with the aid of the agency’s light tow truck, body bagged and handed over to the police.

He said rescuers also averted disasters at Mile Two and Ajao Estate, Isolo areas of the state after two tankers laden with petroleum products fell.

A fully loaded gas tanker with unknown registration number fell across the bridge at Alaba Suru inward Mile 2 yesterday evening, he said, adding that no life was lost.

Oke-Osanyintolu said a Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) tanker overturned at Osolo Way, inward Ajao Estate in Isolo in the morning of yesterday, adding that the situation was swiftly brought under control to prevent secondary emergency.

He said heavy duty equipment of the agency were deployed to the accident scenes to evacuate the trucks and prevent secondary incidents.

The LASEMA boss said the agency also notified motorists to be cautious and exercise patience as they plied the affected routes. According to him, the Osolo Way accident was caused by brake failure.

He said: “The tanker with registration no MAG926XA carrying 40000 litres of PMS dashed into a road side gutter and couldn’t get out, thus, eventually leading to a road blockage and this was discovered by the LASEMA response team upon their arrival at the scene.

“The owner of the tanker was contacted and immediately arranged for an empty tanker for transloading the products and afterwards heavy duty equipment was dispatched to the scene to move the tanker.”