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Another petrol tanker tragedy has occurred in Ogun State leaving at least 17 people dead.
About 14 of them were roasted when a tanker exploded on Friday morning at Isara on the Lagos -Ibadan expressway still under construction.
According to report, the crash occurred at 5.00am by the Isara bridge stretch of the expressway when two vehicles -a Mazda bus with registration no. ZT728 bus and a tanker collided.
“The head-on collision due to reckless driving resulted in explosion with the passengers in the Mazda bus trapped,” a police source said.Contacted, Superintendent Route Commander(SRC), Florence Okpe, of the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Ogun State Command, said Isara Police Division and a morgue in the area have been informed of the planned evacuation of the deceased.
Okpe,who spoke on behalf of the State Sector Commander, Umar Ahmed, attributed the cause of the accident to route violation and dangerous driving.
“The total number of people involved is not ascertained but a total 17 bodies ( killed) have been identified. One male, a female and a female child only have been identified while others were burnt beyond recognition and no injury sustained.”A total of two vehicles were involved with registration numbers ZT728 KLD a Mazda Bus and unknown vehicle of unknown make (Tanker).
“The suspected causes of the fatal crash were Route violation and Dangerous driving which resulted in head-on collision and fire.
“The vehicles are partially obstructing the service lane. The Nigeria Police Isara and the FOS Morgue by services Isara have been informed. FRSC personnel from Ogere are on ground managing the situation,” she said.
