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,,,,,,Raises Fresh Safety Concerns.
By correspondent in Ilorin.
A fatal accident involving an articulated vehicle carrying fuel and a fertilizer-laden truck on the Oko-Olowo/Jebba Expressway in Kwara State on Friday,has claimed one life..
Eyewitness accounts said that the crash, which happened at Iyemaja Village axis of the road resulted in the death of the truck driver.
The Reporters further gathered that the accident happened when the truck driver attempted to overtake the fuel carrying fuel vehicle but lost control and brushed the one carrying fuel.
The impact was said to have caused a fuel spill, ignited and set both vehicles ablaze.
Our correspondent reports that despite efforts by onlookers to rescue the driver, the intense flames made any intervention impossible.
“We tried, but the fire was too fierce. By the time emergency services arrived, it was too late,” said Sheu Arobadi, a local resident who witnessed the tragedy.
The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed their prompt response, preventing the fire from spreading further.
“We managed to contain the blaze and saved the fertilizer cargo, which could have worsened the situation,” said Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, Director of the Fire Service.
While rumors circulated about multiple fatalities, the fire service clarified that only one person lost his life.
“We urge the public to rely on accurate information and disregard unverified reports circulating on social media,” Hassan Hakeem Adekunle,the fire service spokesperson stated.
The accident has heightened calls for immediate safety measures on the Oko-Olowo/Jebba road, which has long been a hotspot for accidents involving large vehicles. “This road is a death trap. It’s high time the government considered widening the lanes or building a flyover to prevent such tragedies,” Arobadi remarked.
He urged motorists to be vigilant and follow traffic regulations to avoid further fatalities.
Our correspondent recalls that two months ago, an articulated vehicle rammed in a bus carrying some passengers on the Felele axis of Lokoja-Okene Highway in Lokoja and killed five students of the Federal University, Lokoja, neighboring kogi state.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
