Two die in tanker explosion in Ogun

At least two people were injured on Thursday on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after a tanker exploded in front of the headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, Magboro, Ogun State.

The Telegraph learnt that two vehicles and a makeshift shop along the expressway were also burnt in the fire, which started around 3pm.

It was gathered that the empty diesel tanker was trying to avoid hitting a commercial bus when it crashed into the median and somersaulted, blocking the expressway.

However, a motorist coming behind the tanker, who could not manoeuvre his way, collided with the tanker, leading to an explosion.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Engineer Tunde, said the tanker had a brake failure.

He said, “As a result of the brake failure, the tanker driver hit the median and tumbled while trying to avoid hitting the vehicle in front. A car came along and hit the fallen tanker and it exploded.”

A resident in the area, Joshua Ogar, said, “I was sitting here while trying to buy something when I saw the truck on the expressway trying to avoid ramming into the vehicle in front. The truck was close to the vehicle, so the driver applied the brake suddenly to avoid hitting the bus.

“As a result of the applied brake, the tires of the truck hit the median and made the truck fall, blocking the expressway. But the car that was coming from behind at top speed with no other choice hit the truck and it exploded because the road was already blocked by the truck.”

The Ogun State Federal Road Safety Corps spokesperson, Florence Okpe, in a statement, said three vehicles and five adult males were involved in the accident.

The statement read in part, “A total of five persons were involved and they were all male adults. Two persons were injured and no death was recorded from the road traffic crash. The suspected causes of the multiple crashes were speed, brake failure, and loss of control on the part of the tanker.”