Two people lost their lives w Huhhile 16 others sustained various degrees of injury following a fuel tanker crash that occurred near St. Louis College in Jos, Plateau State,
The Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Peter Longsan, confirming the incident on Monday, said the injured were rushed to hospitals, while the deceased were deposited at BUTH.
It was gathered that the crash happened on Sunday evening. Eyewitnesses said the tanker lost brakes just after the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout and eventually collided with several other vehicles, resulting in fatalities.
According to Longsan, the FRSC and other agencies, including the police, army, and fire service, quickly responded, cordoning off the area and diverting traffic to prevent further disaster.
“In order to avert conflagration, sister agencies mobilised themselves and put hands on deck, cordoned the vicinity, and diverted traffic to ensure the safety of road users. The effort was also to bar economic saboteurs from making any attempt to loot. Thankfully there was no spillage of the content of the tanker, as the risk of fire outbreak became low”, he said.
The sister agencies present at the scene included the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Officers and Men of Operation Rainbow, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
It was stated that the petroleum product was safely transloaded, all vehicles involved were removed, and all obstructions cleared.
“The operation lasted into midnight, and as of this morning the road was clear, road users can go about their business”, Longsan said..
Meanwhile, the Sector Commander, FRSC Plateau, Olajide E. Mogaji, appreciated all who contributed to the success of the operations. He also commended the strategic synergy, partnership, and collaboration among stakeholders, as well as the cooperation of the community, noting that road safety is everybody’s business.
He finally enjoined road users to call the FRSC emergency number 122 to report road traffic crashes or other emergencies, urging Nigerians to avoid distractions and take responsibility for their actions on the road. He thereafter urged all road users to stay safe and be defensive drivers in the New Year.
