A petrol tanker said to be coming from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Depot in Calabar, Cross River State, crashed into a pavement, killing at least six persons at Obong Itam, Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
A police team on the highway was said to have tried to flag down the truck as they noticed that the driver was driving with only one headlamp, which was allegedly not even bright.
It was gathered that the driver, in a bid to escape arrest by the police, sped off, but lost the control of the vehicle almost immediately, crashed into pavement, and trapped a tricycle.
A resident of Obong Itam, Cyril Ekpenyong, told Punch correspondent that the crash occurred around 8:30pm on Monday; adding that the tanker driver, his conductor, and two passengers in the tricycle that was trapped died instantly, having been burnt beyond recognition when the tanker exploded into flames.
He added that the tricycle rider and another man in the truck were taken to hospital, where two of them were later confirmed dead.
The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Godsgift Uwen, confirmed the incident.
He said the accident happened along KM 8, Obong Itam, along Uyo-Calabar Highway on Monday around 8:30pm.
See photo of one of the burnt victims:
A police team on the highway was said to have tried to flag down the truck as they noticed that the driver was driving with only one headlamp, which was allegedly not even bright.
It was gathered that the driver, in a bid to escape arrest by the police, sped off, but lost the control of the vehicle almost immediately, crashed into pavement, and trapped a tricycle.
A resident of Obong Itam, Cyril Ekpenyong, told Punch correspondent that the crash occurred around 8:30pm on Monday; adding that the tanker driver, his conductor, and two passengers in the tricycle that was trapped died instantly, having been burnt beyond recognition when the tanker exploded into flames.
He added that the tricycle rider and another man in the truck were taken to hospital, where two of them were later confirmed dead.
The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Godsgift Uwen, confirmed the incident.
He said the accident happened along KM 8, Obong Itam, along Uyo-Calabar Highway on Monday around 8:30pm.
See photo of one of the burnt victims:
