Five persons have been killed after a diesel-laden tanker lost its brakes and crashed into several vehicles along the Iwo Road–Ojoo Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The accident occurred around 10 a.m. on Saturday at Aduloju Bus Stop, opposite Dominion City, involving a fully loaded diesel tanker and several vehicles, including commercial Nissan Micra cars.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Adeoye Ayoade, said the crash followed a traffic build-up caused by a broken-down trailer carrying motor spare parts around the Arilogu area earlier in the morning.
According to him, the trailer broke down around 5 a.m., resulting in a long queue of vehicles as arrangements were being made to transfer its load.
Ayoade explained that the diesel tanker subsequently suffered brake failure and fell onto the vehicles, with its tank crushing one of the commercial cars.
He said all five occupants of the affected Nissan Micra died in the incident. The victims comprised two men, including the driver, and three women.
The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, also confirmed the accident, saying the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed the Divisional Police Officer in Kajorepo and nearby patrol teams to secure the scene and assist in rescue operations.
Ayoade said the victims’ remains had been deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital Mortuary, while the damaged vehicles were towed to a police station.
He added that personnel of OYRTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the police were deployed to the scene to manage traffic and facilitate the clearance of the wreckage.
The crash caused heavy traffic congestion along the busy expressway as emergency responders worked to remove the tanker and retrieve the victims.
Ayoade, however, said the affected vehicles had been cleared from the road and normal traffic had been restored.
