The Federal Road Safety Corps, Kwara Command, has confirmed the deaths of three persons in an accident involving four vehicles on the Olooru/Okoolo axis of the state.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the State Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Stephen Dawulung, confirmed the accident to Journalists on Tuesday in Ilorin, noting that it occurred about 3 p.m. on Monday.
Dawulung pointed out that those who died got burnt during the crash.
He noted that on receipt of the report of the crash, the FRSC rescue operatives in the state were immediately mobilised to the crash scene.
”We worked in conjunction with operatives of the Nigerian Police Force and the Federal Fire Service to rescue some passengers before the fire ignited.”
The Sector Commander stated further that preliminary investigations revealed that a vehicle conveying feeds, en route to Lagos, attempted to overtake another vehicle but collided with an oncoming trailer conveying brewery products.
”Meanwhile another tanker carrying petroleum products was closely following the tanker carrying brewery products and crashed into the pre-existing accident, leading to multiple crashes.
”The multiple vehicle collision ignited a fire that escalated due to the presence of petroleum products, and the inferno burnt the three vehicles and a motorcycle that got caught up in the crash,” he explained.
Dawulung noted that five persons were involved in the crash, stating that two were passengers on a motorcycle.
He explained that other victims of the crash, aside from those who were burnt to death, sustained various degrees of injuries and were taken to the General Hospital in Ilorin.
He equally disclosed that the remains of those who lost their lives had been claimed by their relatives.
Dawulung said that the fire that erupted as a result of the crash has since been put out, while clearing obstructions in the area is ongoing.
”The corps commiserates with the families of the departed and wishes the injured quick recovery, while reminding all road users to avoid speed and exercise caution.
”We wish to use this medium to remind drivers to always maintain a safe distance between them and vehicles ahead, to create a cocoon of safety to manoeuvre in cakse of a crash or any other occurrence,” he advised.
