A petrol‑laden tanker exploded on Sunday after colliding with a sport‑utility vehicle (SUV) on the Long Bridge axis of the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway. Metro reported that the incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene, observed a team of emergency responders—including police officers, officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, and the State Fire and Safety Service—working at the site. The crash caused a traffic gridlock along the axis, prompting some drivers to travel against the flow of traffic to avoid the fire.
An eyewitness, identified only as Omogbolan, recounted the events: “The SUV driver was at top speed, trying to overtake several vehicles. After passing about three cars, he attempted to swerve back to the left, but the tanker was already in the lane, and the SUV struck it.” No casualties were reported.
The tanker driver, who gave his name as Hamid, blamed the SUV driver for the accident. He explained, “I was in the fast lane near the curb when the driver tried to overtake. After passing some vehicles, he hit my tyre, causing me to lose control and climb the curb. The tanker then fell on its side and caught fire. He told the police his tyre burst, which led to the collision. I am waiting for the tanker’s owner.”
FRSC Ogun State Sector Commander Ahmed Umar confirmed that a tyre burst caused the crash. “The SUV’s tyre burst, the driver lost control, and the vehicle swerved into the tanker, leading to the incident. Two adults and two children in the SUV were rescued by our officials patrolling the corridor,” he said.
Ojo Oloye, unit commandant of TRACE covering the OPIC and MFM axis, added that the fire could not be extinguished immediately because fuel remained in the tanker. “Firemen have tried to put out the fire but ran out of water and had to replenish. Our men are also helping to control traffic alongside the police and FRSC officials,” he explained.
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