Tragedy was averted in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Friday, as a truck laden with fuel crashed into six vehicles including three commercial buses.

Our correspondent gathered that the accident was caused as a result of brake failure suffered by the truck bearing 33,000 litres of premium motor spirit.

The driver of the tanker marked, Lagos AGL 804XK, was said to have struggled to maneuver the vehicle and he eventually stopped it just before it plunged into the drainage. Despite this, the tanker crushed a Toyota Camry; Toyota Carina; Honda Civic and three mini commercial buses.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps were said to have rescued some of the passengers who were injured in the crash.

Five passengers from the commercial buses were reportedly injured while three were taken to a hospital for treatment and the others went away to treat their injuries.

The rear side of the Toyota Camry was badly damaged by the impact of the tanker but the degree of the damage varied on the vehicles involved.

One of the eye witnesses, Doyin Omotoso, told Punch correspondent at the scene of the accident that the tanker driver hooted continuously as the truck was descending the slope having realised that the truck had suffered brake failure.

The driver of the tanker was said to have fled the scene but he was later brought to the scene.

The accident caused a traffic snarl, but the prompt response by the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, restored sanity in no time.

Omotoso said the tanker driver blared the horn continuously and everybody knew that the vehicle had developed brake failure.

“I thank God that the tanker did not fall eventually and none of the victims died. Many lives would have been lost if the tanker had fallen because the fuel would have spilled and it would have entered into Osun River and you can imagine the extent of the damage if it should catch fire.”

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Mohammed Hussain, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said one person was injured.

The sector commander said seven vehicles were involved in the accident including the petrol tanker.

He said further: “Seven vehicles were involved in the accident including the tanker and one person was injured; we thank God the tanker did not fall. It would have been a great tragedy but we thank God for averting the loss.”

Hussaini warned drivers against putting faulty vehicles on the road, saying his men would get any vehicle not found to be road worthy impounded.

 

Source: Punchng.com

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