BY ABISOYE JOHNSON
A fuel tanker caught fire after an accident at the Kara area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, leaving two people burnt to death and about 35 vehicles razed.
The driver of the tanker and a motorboy were the victims burnt to death in the unfortunate incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday.
Spokesperson for the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident to journalists in Abeokuta.
He said the over 35 vehicles that were burnt, included those parked on the highway.
Akinbiyi said, “Our men are still on a rescue mission. The tanker was loaded with diesel; maybe the driver was on excessive speeding or sleeping while driving. Along the line, the tanker fell on its side and it started spilling its content.
“About 35 vehicles were burnt, particularly those parked by the sides of the road. The driver and the motor boy died. We cannot say anything about other casualties now but I will keep you posted.”
The bodies of the deceased, according to him, have been deposited at the mortuary at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.
He advised motorists to seek alternative routes right now because of the heavy gridlock the accident had caused, and avoid that part of the Expressway.