Sangotedo tanker fire: Death toll rises to two

By John Ogunsemore

A driver and his assistant were burnt beyond recognition in a fire incident that ensued after their tipper truck rammed a gas truck from behind at Tera Ahmeed bus stop, Sangotedo, on Lekki – Epe Expressway in Lagos State early Saturday morning.

The Controller General, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye confirmed the death toll in a statement sent to SunOnline.

Adeseye said the 20-tonne truck slammed into the rear end of the 30-tonne gas tanker which failed to pull over from the highway.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) had earlier said the driver of the tipper truck was killed while two female adults sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

In a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA said preliminary investigations at the scene indicated that the accident was caused by the tipper truck driver’s overspeeding and reckless driving.

In its statement, the fire service said the tipper truck driver and his assistant died in the incident.

The service said the fire incident caused by the accident has also been brought under control.

The statement reads, “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has brought under control the accident between a Gas Tanker and a Tipper Truck on Lekki – Epe Expressway, Tera Ahmeed bus stop, Sangotedo, Lagos.

“The accident which was alerted at 02:36 wee hours Saturday saw Lekki Phase II, Oniru and Epe II Fire Stations of the Agency raised to the scene after it was reported that an oncoming speeding 20 tonnes tipper truck from Epe end rammed from behind into a stationed 30 tonnes gas truck that failed to pull over from the highway.

“The resultant effects culminated into fire spreading to adjoining three warehouses and 10 roadside shops including a gym and generator house before the fire was put out, saving a Total Petrol Filling Station, its fully loaded 33,000 litres PMS tanker and a host of properties.

“After the blaze has been doused, three Sienna bus cars, one Toyota Corolla car and a forklift parked within the aforementioned properties were recovered, just as the tipper driver and his assistant, both male adults were also recovered burnt beyond recognition while the gas truck driver escaped unhurt.”

The service said efforts were ongoing to evacuate the remains of both trucks on the road as normalcy has returned to the scene of the accident.