Tanker driver burnt to death in road mishap

A tanker driver conveying petrol to an unknown destination was on Saturday burnt to death in a road mishap that occurred at the Ovia River head bridge along Benin-Ore-Lagos express road.

Three vehicles including a heavy duty tow truck belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were burnt.

The fire was still on as at press 3.28pm on Saturday.

Officials of the FRSC had to divert motorists going and returning from Lagos to link Benin City through Iguobazuwa road at Okada junction.

Edo Sector Commander of the FRSC, Familoni Oluwasusi, said the fire occurred when the tanker fully loaded with fuel hit the tow truck used for clearing two previous accidents on the road.

Familoni said the tanker driver lost control despite diversion and obstruction placed on the road to warn motorists that its officials were clearing vehicles involved in multiple accidents.

He said a truck conveying diesel fell on the road on Friday evening and after it was partially cleared, two other vehicles had accident almost at the same spot.

The Edo FRSC boss stated that it was in the process of clearing the vehicles that the tanker driver rammed into the two trucks and caused the fire.

He said his men escaped with injuries but the tanker driver was not lucky.

According to him, “His corpse is still burning and clearing of obstruction is ongoing. The injured has been taken to the hospital for treatment.

“Patrol team blocked the road to remove a crashed truck when the trailer carrying fuel lost control and hit the FRSC two truck which resulted in fire outbreak,” he said.