Three persons were on Monday afternoon killed while eight others were severely injured in an accident involving three trucks that went up in flames along Oko-Olowo Jebba expressway in Moro local government area of Kwara state.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that nine other persons were rescued from the fire inferno which occurred when the driver of a Petrol Tanker fully loaded with 45000 litres of PMS lost control and had a head-on collision with the driver of another truck carrying loads of soya beans.
It was further gathered that prompt arrival of officers of State Fire Service at the scene, who successfully put out the fire saved the lives of Nine other persons who were immediately evacuated from the scene, while the injured were taken to the nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.
Also, several houses and shops which are in large numbers around the scene of the accident would have been destroyed by the Fire inferno, if not for the timely intervention of their officers.
Spokesman of Kwara State Fire Service, Mr Hassan Hakeem Adekunle who confirmed the incident said: “On Monday, January 15, 2024, around 14:46 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire at Emperor Hospital along Oko-Olowo-Jebba expressway in Ilorin, Kwara State.
“The incident involved a petrol tanker (45,000 litres of PMS), a truck loaded with soft drinks, and a truck loaded with soybeans.
“The fire originated from a head-on collision between the petrol tanker, whose driver lost control, and the truck carrying soybeans. Tragically, three lives were lost, and eight injuries were recorded among the 20 individuals on board.”
The statement added “Despite the severity of the situation, the firemen successfully contained the fire, preserving the hospital and nearby buildings.
“Expressing deep sorrow, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa emphasized the need for road users to prioritize safe driving practices, issuing a warning to adhere to safety measures consistently.