Petrol tanker driver veers off road, kills tricycle rider in Ibadan

A man, Ajibade Opeyemi, lost his life on Friday at Oke Ado area of Ibadan, Oyo State, at about 7:30 a.m. when his tricycle with registration number NRK 125 QX was crushed by a petrol tanker which veered off its side of the road and skidded to the other side.

Information gathered from witnesses and other tricycle riders indicated that the incident was caused by a Toyota Venza driver, he was allegedly on speed on the right side of the two-lane road facing Oke Bola when he suddenly steered his wheel to the left side where the tanker, with registration number T 25925 LA, was, as he almost hit a garbage bin by the right side.

In a bid to avoid collision with the bin, the Venza driver was reported to have swerved into the left lane, which caused the tanker driver to lose control while trying to apply the brakes.

Immediately the incident occurred, police officers from Iyaganku Division were alerted, and the Divisional Traffic Officer and others rushed the tricycle rider to Ibadan Central Hospital, Ososami Road, where he was confirmed dead.

His remains were taken to State Hospital, Adeoyo, Ring Road, and deposited in the mortuary.

The incident sparked outrage in other tricycle riders who refused to allow the transloading of the fuel in the tanker to another in order to make the environment safe and avert a further disaster.

They were of the opinion that once the tanker was removed from the accident spot, nothing would be heard about the case again, as they insisted on justice for their deceased member.

The Divisional Police Officer, Iyaganku Division, CSP Daniel Oboyi, was seen placating the irate tricycle riders who had converged, but his pleas were rejected for several hours until they reluctantly agreed at about 3:30 p.m.

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A tricycle rider, Adesina Babatunde, who spoke with Saturday Tribune, said he and other riders were on the way from Oke Bola when they saw the petrol tanker skid over the median and crush the tricycle and its owner.

“The deceased had parked on the road setback, looking back to call for passengers. The only passenger he had quickly jumped out of the tricycle when he saw the petrol tanker. The late rider, who heard the commotion, tried to run when he turned and saw the coming truck, but fell and was crushed,” Babatunde narrated.

Babatunde said that the Toyota Venza driver sped off when he noticed that the trailer had crushed the tricycle rider.

Though the Venza driver was pursued by motorcyclists who saw him as the cause of the accident, it was learnt that he still succeeded in escaping with a damaged vehicle after hitting one of his pursuers.

Firefighters from Oyo State Fire Service were also at the scene, as they intermittently sprayed the petrol tanker with water to avoid explosion because of the heat caused by the weather.

A towing truck of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was also stationed on a side.

As the arrangement to transload the fuel was going on, three daughters of the deceased suddenly appeared, wailing, as sympathisers were consoling them.

One of them was saying: “Where is my father? He left home this morning to work for money to fend for us. My father can’t be dead.”

In mourning the deceased, tricycle riders stopped their colleagues from operating and were seen stopping those who were riding past the area, unaware of what had happened.