Three people have died while two others sustained life-threatening injuries, following a multiple road mishap in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.The Guardian learnt that the incident, which occurred Monday afternoon along the Olooru/Oko-Olowo road, involved four vehicles, including two articulated trucks, a van, and a commercial motorcycle.
The crash resulted in a fire which burnt the vehicles. According to an eyewitness, a vehicle conveying feeds, while trying to overtake another vehicle, collided with an oncoming trailer conveying brewery products.
Thereafter, a fully loaded petroleum tanker which had been following closely rammed into both. The eyewitness said the petroleum products intensified the fire.
A commercial motorcyclist, while attempting to manoeuvre past the scene became trapped amid the burning vehicles. Confirming the incident, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said: “On receipt of the report of the crash, FRSC rescue operatives were immediately mobilised to the scene, where they worked in conjunction with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and Federal Fire Service to rescue some passengers before the fire began.
“There were a total of five people involved in the crash. Two of them, who were passengers on the motorcycle, sustained injuries and were taken to General Hospital, Ilorin. But the remaining three sadly lost their lives as they were burnt in the inferno. The remains of the deceased persons have been claimed by their relatives.”
The official said the fire had been put out and that clearing of obstruction along the route was ongoing. An alternative route had also been created for the flow of traffic.
The FRSC official appealed to motorists to maintain a safe distance with vehicles ahead “to create a cocoon” of safety for manoeuvering, in the case of a crash or any other occurrence that may jeopardise their safety.
