Petrol Tanker Driver, Assistant Die in Oyo Accident
Two individuals, including a petrol tanker driver and his assistant, known as a motor boy, tragically died in an accident on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Akinyemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident, revealing that the agency’s prompt action helped prevent a potential disaster. The accident occurred at around 05:01hrs when a petrol tanker fell opposite the Total Filling Station at Orita Challenge, Ibadan.
Akinyinka explained that the agency received the emergency call from Mr. Moruf Balogun, informing them of the incident. Fire personnel, led by ACFS Olubunmi Christy, were quickly deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, the team observed that the petrol tanker had fallen and was engulfed in flames near the petrol station.
The swift response of the fire service team helped contain the situation. A second fire truck, led by ACFS Adekola, was dispatched to assist in preventing the fire from escalating further. Foam chemicals were applied to control the fire, and it was brought under control in a short period.
Despite the efforts to control the flames, the driver and his assistant were found to have suffered severe burns. They were recovered from the scene and handed over to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who transported them to the hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
Akinyinka also noted that firemen from Sumal Food Limited assisted the fire service team during the operation. The fire services remained on-site, continuing cooling operations to fully extinguish any remaining flames.
The accident was attributed to brake failure as the driver attempted to navigate the roundabout near the Total Filling Station. The truck hit a concrete barrier, somersaulted, and caught fire.
