Year yesterday gripped residents and passengers in Awka, Anambra State, as a tanker suspected to be carrying petrol fell at Aroma junction.
It was later discovered that the articulated truck was conveying palm kernel oil to an unknown destination.
When the tanker fell, people scampered for safety; drivers abandoned their vehicles and ran.
The palm kernel-laden truck was descending the hill from Enugu axis of the Awka-Onitsha when the driver lost control and in the process of avoiding casualties, swerved towards the flyover at Aroma and crashed.
An eyewitness told The Nation that the driver veered off the road while attempting to dodge a hummer bus said to be owned by revenue agents, as well as commuters waiting for vehicles at the junction.
Read Also: Fire guts petrol-laden tanker in Niger – FRSC
The source said: “The driver was brave. He should be praised for being a trained one, otherwise, we would have been talking about over 70-80 deaths today (yesterday).
“The accident occurred in front of Sunny Star Company Park at Aroma. Over 15 vehicles were loading at the time, while no fewer than 20 persons were waiting for buses plying Eke Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia. It was the Lord’s doing.”
When The Nation visited the scene, residents were seen scooping palm kernel oil, while others watched in bewilderment.
Firefighters, who arrived shortly after the accident, assisted with water to neutralise the contents, while the area was cordoned off, as motorists diverted to other routes.