28th September, 2012
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Three occupants of a Toyota Hilux van were burnt beyond recognition early today when their vehicle ran into a stationary petrol tanker in Port-Harcourt, capital of Nigeria’s Rivers state.
The stationary vehicle had been stuck for five days at First Bank Bus Stop, near Airforce Junction,Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway.
The accident which occurred at about 1.30 a.m today caused a serious traffic jam on Expressway,as no traffic officers of Federal Road Safety Commission,FRSC,or Rivers Traffic Management Authority,TIMARIV,had arrived the scene as at 9a.m today, during the rush hour.
About 300 metres from the scene of the accident is the collapsed Airforce bridge, which had already introduced an agonising traffic jam as vehicles are diverted away from the section of the ill-fated bridge.
Benjamin Ugwuegbulem,the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer,PPRO confirmed news of the accident reached the command early enough, but denied knowledge of the identity of the occupants.
Motorists had herculean task getting to their places of business as vehicles were diverted through Rumuomasi-Market road.
Worse hit by the traffic jam were motorists going from Aba or Oyingbo to the state capital.