The Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun Sector Command has said five people died in the early hours of Wednesday as a petrol tanker burst into flames on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The state Sector Commander, Ahmed Umar, confirmed this in a statement he issued to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Umar said the accident occurred at 4:46am near Tunji Alegi Filling Station, Kwakyama area, Ogere.
He said the cause of the accident could be wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving on the part of the petrol tanker driver.
According to him, the tanker collided with a moving truck, resulting in the fire.
The Sector Commander said the bodies of the dead were recovered from one of the crashed trucks and were burnt beyond recognition.
He added that they had been deposited at a morgue in Ipara.
Umar said: “The FRSC wishes to inform the motoring public of the fire incident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which occurred in the early hours of today, involving a petrol tanker laden with Premium Motors Spirit around Tunji Alegi Filling Station, Kwakyama Area of Ogere.
“This development calls for caution as the spill has affected some other vehicles parked at the shoulder of the road.”
Umar said that five vehicles were involved in the inferno, and urged motorists to cooperate with traffic managers to reduce hours spent in traffic.
He also said fire fighters at Sagamu, Police Traffic Division at Ogere and Gateway Police Station, Old Tollgate, Ogere had been contacted.
He said that traffic had been diverted to avoid more crashes and further loss of lives and property on the road.
Umar advised motorists to take alternative routes.