From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Tragedy struck in Akungba-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State on Friday as many people died in a fatal road accident.
The actual number of the victims could not be ascertained as at press time but a source put the total figure of casualties at 12.
Although the Ondo State sector command of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the accident, the command did not give the details as at press time.
It was gathered that the accident which occurred in front of the main entrance of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko was caused by a petrol tanker which rammed into a truck parked by the road side.
The tanker, sources said caught fire when it rammed into the truck, thereby killing people inside the truck and others around it.
The identities of the victims of the accident was not known as at the time of filling the report, but sources said many of them were passerby.
A source told Saturday Sun that the driver of the tanker lost control due to break failure, adding that the tanker driver was on high speed when the break failed.
He said “the petrol tanker caused the accident due to break failure. The tanker driver lost control and the tanker rammed into a stationary truck.
“The fire occassioned by the accident extended to other places and that made the situation worse. We cannot say the total number of casualties recorded now. Everywhere around the University gate is burning now,” he added.