CITIZENS COMPASS —A tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol has fallen on two buses trapping one person to death in Lagos.
The accident occurred on weekend, at Kola area along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
The deceased an adult female was identified as an undergraduate student of a higher institution in Nigeria.
Eye witnesses’ account attributed the accident to the failed section of the road which they said has become a dearh trap.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu confirmwd the incident in a statement on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
“Following a distress call received at 16:30hrs on Saturday, 2nd December, 2023 through the agency’s 112/767 toll-free lines, LASEMA activated the Lagos State Emergency Response Plans and arrived the incident scene with all necessary light and heavy duty equipment.
“Upon arrival of the Agency’s LRT at the incident scene, it was observed that a white MACK Petroleum Oil Tanker, registration number unknown, laden to capacity with 45,000 litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit, (PMS), a white Hi-Ace interstate bus, registration number EPE 958 YD and a commercial Volkswagen Vanagon bus with registration number JJJ 270 YD, were involved in a road traffic accident at the afformentioned address.
“Investigations conducted at the incident scene revealed that the accident occurred when the oil tanker was traversing an undulating portion of the road and fell on two commercial buses killing an adult female in the process, while other lucky occupants of the two buses escaped unhurt.
“During the tedious overnight recovery operation, the Agency’s Response Teams were engaged in a running battle with the rampaging miscreants who were debarred from scooping spilt fuel.
“The rampaging miscreants employed all forms of tactics in attempts to distrupt the operation in a hostile environment, this included barring recovery of the commodity, before it was finally extricated and handed over to Police Officers from Ojokoro Police Station.
“LASEMA coordinated the recovery operation, putting all necessary precautionary measures in place and barring all activities that could lead to an explosion of the fallen oil tanker that was leaking PMS, through sparks and ignition of the spilt PMS.
“The agency deployed it’s heavy duty sophisticated equipment “Elephant” for swift recovery of the fallen oil tanker, immediately after transloading the remaining contents, while the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services blanketed the oil tanker all through the recovery process.
“The fallen oil tanker has been recovered successfully while the salvaged contents were transloaded into two 20,000 litres oil tankers and safely driven off the incident scene.
“The entire area has been well blanketed by LASG Fire and Rescue Services to ensure safety.
The Agency’s LRT conducted a post recovery assessment to confirm total safety of residents and road users in the axis.
All secondary incidents have been averted and the road has been fully re-opened to the public for vehicular activities.
“Operation concluded. LRT heading back to base
“In Attendance: LASEMA Response Team, LASTMA, LSNC, NPF, LASG Fire & Rescue Services and LASAMBUS.”
