Many injured,dead in multiple auto crashes

Firstclass newsline learnt that a diesel-laden tanker on its way to
Lagos crashed and spilled its content on the highway on Monday around
8pm.
Four vehicles, which were said to be on their way towards the
Sagamu-Benin-Ore area, reportedly lost control after they ran over the
spilled diesel.
The vehicles included a vehicle belonging to the cement company of
billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, Dangote Cement, which
skidded off the slippery road and crashed into a valley.
Another truck, carrying tyres, also fell into the valley after
spilling its contents on the road.
A commercial bus and one other truck were also involved, while a
damaged motorcycle was also seen at the accident spot.
This led to a gridlock on the expressway on Tuesday as all vehicles
making use of the highway were diverted to a single lane.
An eyewitness, who identified himself as Bayo, said no fewer than four
people died in the crash.
He said, "It was a sad development. I can say that no fewer than four
people died in the crash."
The driver of the Dangote Cement truck, Abubakar Umar, who survived
the accident, said he escaped death by a whisker.
He said, "I ran into the slippery portion unawares and the truck lost
its balance, skidded off the road before plunging into a valley by the
roadside."
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, however,
said the tanker that caused the accident was laden with black oil, and
ran into a bad portion of the road before spilling its content on the
expressway.
He said the tanker was coming from the Sagamu area and heading towards Lagos.
He said the spilled oil made the road slippery, while vehicles on the
opposite lane ran into it unawares, and skidded off the road.
He said, "The tanker was carrying black oil and it crashed around 8pm
on Monday on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway and spilled its content on
the highway, mostly on the opposite lane. Vehicles coming from the
opposite direction ran into it and skidded off the road.
"We heard that it was only one person that died, while some others
were injured and they are receiving treatment in the hospital."
Some operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the state's Traffic
Compliance and Enforcement Agency and the police were sighted
controlling the traffic on Tuesday at the scene by a source.
Also, some labourers were seen taking sand from the roadside to cover
the oil – filled road surface.
Firstclassnewsline.net