5 burnt to death as petrol tanker crashes on Abuja-Lokoja road
Five persons were burnt to death after a petrol tanker crashed and went up in flames on Wednesday evening at Gada-Biyu village, on Abuja-Lokoja road.
Our reporter learnt that the tanker with registration number NCH 220 XB lost control and rammed into two other vehicles.
A witness, simply identified as Yunusa, said the incident happened at about 5:07p.m. when the tanker, coming from Lokoja axis, lost control and rammed into a Golf car with registration number BAS 304 AA and a Mitsubishi Dynna bus with registration number LSD 804 XQ.
He said the tanker crashed on the Golf car, in which five people were trapped and burnt beyond recognition.
“But the tanker driver and his conductor, including the driver of the Dynna truck were able to escape before the fire went beyond control,” he said
He said the burnt corpses were later evacuated by men of the Abaji unit command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
He said before arrival of fire fighters from Abaji, the fire from the tanker was beyond control.
Our reporter further learnt that two persons were also injured in another accident that occurred at the same scene, after a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number KUJ 273 XA lost control and crashed into the obstruction caused by the tanker fire.
It was gathered that the driver and a passenger who sustained serious injuries where taken to hospital by the rescue team of the FRSC.
When contacted, the Abaji unit commander of the FRSC, Assistant Corps Commander, Olasupo A. Esuruoso, confirmed the incidents.
He attributed the accidents to over speeding, saying the five burnt corpses have been deposited at Abaji General Hospital mortuary.
“The two injured victims from another truck which crashed at the same place were taken to Abaji General Hospital for treatment, while the obstruction has been cleared, “he said.