Tragedy struck in Celica area, Egbeda local government, Ibadan, Oyo state, on Monday when a fully loaded fuel tanker rammed into a commercial car, killing atleast five passengers in the process.
Residents explained that the truck which was suspected to have suffered break failure was being manoeuvred by the driver which resulted in the crash.
Two of the victims are said to be siblings who are preparing to sit for their National Examination Council (NECO) examination.
An eyewitness explained that the fully loaded truck skided off the road with the taxi before plunging into a nearby ditch.
He revealed that the taxi was about to enter the road when the truck crashed into it.
The eyewitness also explained that there were six passengers in the taxi as of the time of the accident but that four of them died immediately the accident occured.
Officers of the state fire fighters and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were said to have stormed the accident scene on rescue effort by putting off the fire and douse fear of possible explosion.
The witness said the FRSC effort also helped ease and control vehicular traffic in the ever busy Ibadan-Ife Expressway.
Speaking on the incident, Oyo State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mrs Uche Chukwurah said five people died in the accident.
She said the victims include three males and two females, attributing the incident to break failure on the part of the fuel laden truck.
She adsed that the corpse of the five victoms have Ben deposited at the Adeoyo morgue.
Chukwurah said “The crash was as a result of break failure and loss of control. Five persons were killed, three makes and two female adults.
“The corpses have been taken to Adeoyo morgue.
“The wreckages at Celica by the river has been removed and traffic is going on smoothly. We had to mobilised our tow trucks, we mobilised a crane and fire service were fully on ground to help us cool the effect of the PMS that the truck was carrying. The tanker was fully loaded with PMS.
“The efforts paid off as the tanker did not explode. The route is free and open to traffic movement. The route is Ibadan-Ife Expressway and it happens around 7:05am.”
When contacted, the Director Oyo State Fire Service, Mr Moshood Adewuyi explained that all the five occupants of the taxi died after the fuel laden tanker hit it into the nearby ditch.
He noted that all the corpse have been recovered and deposited at the morgue while clearing of the site has started.
Meanwhile, the residents of Celica community have called on the Federal Government to complete the ongoing road rehabilitation work on the Ibadan-Ife expressway which has lasted for over a year.
