Petrol tanker falls, crushes girl in Rivers

A tanker laden with petrol has tumbled at the Obiri-Kwere flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, spilling its content and killing a young girl.

The accident, which occurred on Friday evening, reportedly caused traffic gridlock and compelled motorists to seek alternative routes.

A source who spoke in confidence said that the truck cut into two and one of its parts hit and crushed the girl.

“I was at home, but the next thing we saw was a trailer that was making noise. The body of the trailer was separated from the head. So the girl felt that the head of the trailer was going to hit the tricycle she was in.

“She jumped out and the body of the trailer fell on her. The trailer’s driver ran from the scene initially but later returned,” the witness said.

The remains were reportedly evacuated by the police and taken to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

When contacted, the acting spokesperson of the state’s police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was yet to get a report on the incident.

However, the Head of Operations, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Rivers State Command, Chukwuma Mbaegbu, confirmed the incident. (The Nation)