Three people in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, were completely burned beyond recognition late Monday night when a fully loaded petrol truck caught fire due to a brake failure.
According to an eyewitnesses, the collision happened at 8:17 p.m. on the always crowded Lokoja-Abuja express road in front of the Living Faith Church in Felele.
The tanker, which was reportedly fully filled with diesel, hit another truck, a Dyna pick-up van, after experiencing brake failure as it descended the sloppy part of road.
Three people were burnt to death, while two other victims were rescued with burns and sent to the Federal Medical Center in Lokoja for treatment. The remains were then deposited at the mortuary, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps Stephen Dawulung told newsmen on Tuesday in Lokoja.
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“The crash resulted from dangerous driving by the driver who suddenly lost control. The tanker was totally burnt. The Dyna pick-up van that was parked by the roadside and two other vehicles were also affected by the fire,”
Traffic was at a standstill due to the magnitude of the fire.
It was after the fire subsided that operatives of the FRSC conducted traffic control to clear the hold-up that had built up.
The Sector Commander issued a warning to drivers of articulated vehicles, particularly those transporting flammable materials, advising them to exercise extreme caution, adhere to the posted speed limit, and follow all vehicle safety precautions, such as using safety valves to prevent content spills in the event of an accident.
The Sector Commander said, “I have ordered a thorough investigation into the crash.”
