At least five people have been killed after a diesel tanker crashed into several vehicles along the Iwo Road-Ojoo Expressway in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The accident occurred around 10 am on Saturday at Aduloju Bus Stop, opposite Dominion City, and involved a fully loaded diesel tanker and Nissan Micra commercial cars, among other vehicles.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority, Adeoye Ayoade, confirmed the incident to Sunday PUNCH.
Ayoade said the accident was triggered by a traffic build-up following the breakdown of a long trailer carrying motor spare parts around Arilogu at about 5 am.
He said, “A long trailer carrying motor spare parts broke down at the Arilogu area around 5 am. They said the driver was taken to the hospital while they were waiting for the vehicle that would transload it. So, the traffic started building up there, causing a long traffic.
“The tanker carrying diesel lost its brake and fell. About six vehicles were involved in the crash, both private cars and Micra. The tank on the truck then rolled on top of one of the Micra.
“The five people inside the Micra, two males including the driver at the front and three females sitting at the back, died.”
Also confirming the incident, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the accident occurred around Kajorepo.
Ayanlade said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer in Kajorepo and other nearby patrol teams to secure the scene and rescue those involved.
He said, “Yes, there was an accident earlier today at around Kajorepo. Immediately, this report got to the command, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed the DPO Kajorepo and other nearby patrols to secure the scene and rescue those involved.”
The OYRTMA GM said the bodies of the victims had been deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital Mortuary, while the damaged vehicles were towed to a police station.
He added that personnel of OYRTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the police were deployed to the scene to manage the situation and restore traffic.
A video seen by our correspondent showed the tanker’s container resting on top of one of the Micra cars, with the driver and passengers trapped inside.
The tanker was later lifted from the vehicle, allowing OYRTMA, FRSC and police personnel to remove the remains of the victims from the wreckage.
The accident caused heavy gridlock along the busy route as traffic officials directed motorists and worked to clear the obstruction.
However, Ayoade said the affected vehicles had been removed from the road, and traffic had been restored on the route.