By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—Four persons were burnt beyond recognition yesterday, when a fuel-laden tanker exploded on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with two others severely injured.

It was gathered that the incident occurred when the tanker reportedly fell on its side. An eyewitness told Vanguard that the tanker was travelling to Ibadan and that the driver was trying to overtake another fuel tanker, when suddenly he lost control of the vehicle.

The state Commandant, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr. Clement Oladele, and the Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the accident.

The affected tanker.

Akinbiyi said four persons trapped inside the ill-fated tanker were burnt beyond recognition, while two others escaped with varying degrees of burns.

Oladele said the number plates of the ill-fated tanker read FFA 752 XA, adding that “the incident occurred when the burnt tanker brushed another tanker by the side while overtaking it.

“This resulted in loss of control and subsequent crash with the resultant impact of fire outbreak on both vehicles.”

He said the timely intervention of men of the fire service saved the other tanker. He added that efforts were on to trans-load the content of the saved tanker, because it was already leaking.