A fuel-laden tanker which fell on its side at Wawa inter-section along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday caused gridlock as motorists spent long hours driving through the area.
It was gathered that the tanker was headed towards Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondents that the tanker fell when the driver, who was allegedly on top speed, sighted another car coming towards him. It was said that the tanker driver tried to avoid ramming into the car and subsequently fell.
One of the eyewitnesses, Mohammed Ogoja said, “The driver was trying to avoid a car that was coming towards his vehicle; in the process, the tanker swerve and the body fall on the road. The engine compartment of the tanker then got detached from the body.”
A police officer from Wawa police post, who craved anonymity because he was not permitted to talk to the press, confirmed this.
He explained that the accident occurred at 12.30pm, adding that since the tanker was laden with fuel, the content began to spill on the ground.
He said the body of the trailer got detached from the engine compartment, which made the driver to escape unhurt.
“There was no casualty recorded, because the head of the tanker was not involved in the accident,” the police officer added.
Our correspondents observed that the driver and the engine compartment had been moved to Ibafo Police Station. It was also noted that the body of the vehicle did not bear any number plate.
The police, men of the Federal Road Safety Corps and Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps were on hand to coordinate activities around the fallen tanker.
A large number of travellers and commuters were held up in the gridlock. Some of them who were heading for Wawa, Arepo, and Ayorinde resorted to trekking.
One of the commuters, Mrs. Lara Omotunde, said she trekked from the long bridge to Ayorinde Bus Stop.
She said, “The driver of the bus I boarded decided he was no longer going to Mowe. We had to alight from the bus on the long bridge because of the gridlock.”
It was also observed that due to the gridlock, many impatient motorists, mostly commercial drivers, began to drive against the traffic.
The motorists soon formed another lane and in the process, they completely halted traffic on the side.
Around 3.30pm, the tanker was removed from the road, while the road was opened to motorists.
It was a difficult task for the law enforcement agents to unlock the confusion created by the incident.
At a point, soldiers, who were also held in the gridlock had to move in and started controlling the traffic on both sides of the expressway.
Men of the Ogun State Fire Service were on hand to forestall any fire incidence as spilled fuel was all over the place.
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