Five people died on Saturday after a diesel tanker lost its brakes and overturned onto a commercial car during a multi-vehicle crash on the Iwo Road–Ojoo Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The victims, comprising two men and three women, were travelling in a Nissan Micra when the tanker’s container crushed the vehicle at Aduloju Bus Stop, opposite Dominion City, around 10 a.m.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority, Adeoye Ayoade, told Sunday PUNCH that the crash followed a traffic build-up caused by a broken-down trailer carrying motor spare parts at Arilogu.
According to Ayoade, the trailer had broken down around 5 a.m., leaving vehicles backed up along the route while arrangements were being made to transfer its load.
He said the diesel tanker subsequently lost its brakes and fell, involving about six vehicles in the crash.
The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, also confirmed the accident, saying Commissioner of Police Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga had directed officers from Kajorepo and nearby patrol teams to secure the scene and assist in rescue operations.
The victims’ remains were taken to the Adeoyo Hospital mortuary, while the damaged vehicles were towed to a police station, Ayoade said.
Personnel of OYRTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the police responded to the scene. The tanker was eventually lifted off the crushed Micra, allowing officials to recover the victims.
The crash caused severe traffic congestion along the expressway before the affected vehicles were cleared and traffic was restored, according to Ayoade.
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