Tragedy was averted on New Year eve when a tanker loaded with petroleum product and six vehicles crashed in Gbagada area of Lagos State yesterday.
Thankfully, no life was lost in the multiple accidents, which occurred at about 5:00pm at Car Wash bus-stop as the trailer descended the Oworo Bridge.
No fewer than 20 motorists and commuters escaped unhurt from the accident on the Gbagada-Oworo flyover.
The vehicles involved were a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and five cars, including a taxi.
The accident led to a backlog of traffic on the busy highway stretching as far as Anthony bus-stop in Oshodi and on the Third Mainland Bridge.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) were seen at the scene evacuating the vehicles from the road, while advising motorists to make use of Ikorodu Road to link Ojota area of the state.
Three of the cars rammed into each other against the bridge culvert upon impact from the diesel-laden tanker.
The culvert helped to halt the vehicles from failing over the bridge. Three other cars had the boots damaged from the accident.
Luckily, nobody died in the accident as the drivers and occupants of the cars were all rescued.
Mr. Adisa Owolabi, the driver of the taxi involved in the accident, said he was coming from Oshodi but on getting to the Oworo bridge, there was slow traffic, which made him slow down. He said he had hardly spent three minutes in the traffic when traffic hawkers started shouting ‘give way, give way, a truck has failed brake.’ He said the next thing he heard was the sound of the car behind him hitting his car.
Meanwhile, the police command in Enugu State has confirmed that five persons were killed in an accident along Enugu-Abakaliki road on Monday. The state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, gave the confirmation while speaking with newsmen in Enugu yesterday.
“Nine persons were also injured; while 15 cows died instantly during the accident,” he said.
He added that the accident occurred between 5:00a.m. and 6:00a.m. near Emene community axis of the Enugu-Abakaliki road.
“It was gathered that the incident occurred when a trailer carrying cows skidded off the road and tumbled while trying to avoid a broken-down tanker.
“The trailer hit a vehicle in the process causing the accident which left five persons dead and nine others injured. Fifteen cows were also killed. Police operatives are now working at the scene to avoid further accident, they are also intensifying efforts to remove the vehicles,’’ he said.
The PPRO also revealed that the injured persons had been rushed to National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu for medical attention.
