2 escape as petrol tanker explodes at Yangoji
Two persons, a driver and his assistant narrowly escaped after a petrol tanker crashed and went up in flames last week at Yangoji village, on the Abuja-Lokoja express way.
A witness said the incident happened around 3: 12 p.m. when a petrol tanker with registration number AAA 243 XM had a tyre burst on speed and crashed by the road side.
He said the tanker caught fire instantly after hitting a barricade.
“The tanker driver and his conductor immediately escaped when the tanker caught fire and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) came to the scene to control traffic caused by the accident,’’ he said.
Our reporter, who was at the scene, saw the tanker burning, while motorists coming from Lokoja axis were diverted by FRSC officials on one way,as men of the fire service visited the scene to put out the fire.
When contacted, Yangoji unit commander of the FRSC, Assistant Corps Commander, Austine Chukwudi Okeke, confirmed the incident, saying the tanker driver and his conductor escaped being trapped by the ill-fated tanker.
“Although, they sustained minor injuries and were taken to Rhema clinic at Kwali town, while we also have to divert motorists coming from both lanes to one lane for nearly one hour to enable fire fighters put out the fire,’’ he said.
He further disclosed that eight persons were also injured in another accident which occurred last Monday morning near Kwaita Bridge, on the Abuja-Lokoja express way.
According to him, the accident happened around 9:25 a.m. when a Volkswagen Golf with registration number LKJ 406 BF had a tyre burst and crashed into a ditch.
He said the injured victims were taken to Rhema clinic at Kwali.