Three persons were burnt beyond recognition and two others were injured when a fully loaded fuel tanker burst into flames after a brake failure in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Monday.
According to an eyewitness account, the crash occurred around 8:17pm, opposite the Living Faith Church, Felele, along the ever-busy Lokoja- Abuja express road.
The tanker, said to be fully loaded with diesel, was descending the sloppy section of the road when it experienced brake failure which resulted in the truck ramming into another truck, a Dyna pick-up van.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Stephen Dawulung, told newsmen on Tuesday in Lokoja that three persons were burnt to death while two other victims were rescued with burns and taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja for medical attention and the corpses deposited at the mortuary.
“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,” Dawulung stated.
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 warned drivers of articulated vehicles, especially those carrying flammable substances to always be cautious and drive within the regulated speed limit and also maintain all vehicle safety protocols like the use of safety valves to prevent spillages of content in the event of a crash.
“I have directed full investigation on the crash,” the Sector Commander added.
