… Lagos fire service, NEMA, LASEMA lead rescue operation
CITIZENS COMPASS —A pregnant woman and one other occupant of a salon car were rescued in Lagos, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, when a tanker hit their car.
The truck driver and Motor Boy were able to escape unhurt.
The accident occurred at about Noon, outward Stadium Bus Stop, Western Avenue, Surulere.
It was gathered that the 35,000 litres tanker belonging to Conoil PLC accidentally fell by its side while on motion and hit a Salon Gulf Car with number plate, KRD 810 EA with two occupants on board.
However, emergency responders at State and Federal levels promptly averted a seconday disaster in the area.
The rescued occupants (male and female adults) who sustained minor injuries were taken to General Hospital, Randle, Surulere for medical attention.
The truck was said to have taken off from Apapa heading for Ikeja when the accident occurred.
The Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye in a statement, said, “The Ilupeju Fire Crew of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is currently applying chemical foam compound to neutralise the potency of the fuel from causing secondary accident.
” This was after salvaging two lives from the car involved in the accident while the tanker driver and assistance escaped unhurt.
” The stretch of the Western Avenue between Barracks and Stadium Bus Stops have been condoned and traffic diverted to alternative routes.
” In attendance were Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigerian Police Force, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) and Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.”
She said the cause of the accident cannot be determined prematurely until ongoing investigation is concluded adding that the evacuation of the remains of the tanker/contents and car have been concluded in a bid to restore the road to normalcy and declare it open.
“Two adults (male and female) rescued alive with minor injuries and been attended to at General Hospital, Randle, Surulere.” She said.
Lagos State Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye also confirmed the accident, “There was a crash off the bridge which led to a build up of traffic, so when the ConOil truck which took off from Apapa heading to discharge at Ikeja tried to match its breaks, the driver lost the control of the vehicle and fell trapping the car with two occupants but they were rescued alive successfully.
“The spillage have been blanketed to rendered the product ineffective.
The driver have contacted the owner of the truck to bring up another to transload the remaining product 45,000 litres truck.
” The injured woman is pregnant, the husband has been contacted and is with his wife’s bedside now,”
LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu also confirmed the accident, “Investigation gathered at the incident scene revealed that the driver of the tanker on top speed lost control while descending the bridge inward Ojuelegba and hit the culvert and fell subsequently spilling its content into the drainage.”
He said there was no loss of life and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also joined in the rescue operation.
At about 9p.m, Adeseye said,”
*Final Update*
The remains of the tanker and contents have been safely towed to the Conoil PLC Depot, Apapa leading to the completion of the mopping up exercise thereby declaring road open for vehicular movements.
This signify the conclusion of the recovery operations.”
