No fewer than 3 persons were burnt to death while 2 others were rescued with burns on Monday evening when a Diesel Tanker exploded in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.

Corps Commander Stephen Dawulung, Kogi Sector of the Federal Road Safely Corps (FRSC), who confirmed the incident, said it occurred at Felele quarters on the Lokoja-Kabba road around 8.17 p.m. of Monday.

Dawulung said the ill-fated tanker conveying flammable material (diesel) bursted into flames after a crash.

“The fire of the crashed tanker resulted to the burning of two other trailers (articulated vehicles) and a Dyna Pick-up van on the road.

“Three persons were burnt to death while two other victims were rescued with burns and rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja for medical attention and the corpse deposited at the motuary”, he said.

Dawulung explained that the crash “resulted from dangerous driving by the driver, who suddenly lost control, crashed and was totally burnt”.

“Unfortunately, the Dyna Pick-up van that was parked by the road side and the two other vehicles were affected by the fire. At that point, traffic became standstill due to the magnitude of the fire until it subsided, making operatives of FRSC to conduct traffic control and cleared the hold-up”, he added.

Dawulung advised drivers of articulated vehicles, especially those carrying flammable substances, to be cautious and drive within the regulated speed limit.

“They (drivers) must also maintain all vehicle safety protocols like the use of safety valves to prevent spillage of content in the event of crash”, he said, while  directing full investigation on the crash.

 He sympathised with families of those who lost their lives in the incident.