Conductor Dies in Petrol Tanker Crash, Firefighters Prevent Explosion in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

An unidentified conductor lost his life as truck transporting petroleum product crashed at Umuike Echem village, Nnobi, near the Nnokwa junction in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The accident, according to eyewitnesses, took place on Sunday morning when driver of the fuel-laden tanker lost control of the vehicle while attempting to navigate a sharp bend in the area.

Meanwhile, witnesses say major disaster was averted at the scene of the accident following swift response of the Anambra State Fire Service.

“As the driver was negotiating the bend, the tanker lost balance and rammed into a wall. The impact caused the fuel to start leaking from the truck, posing a severe risk of a major fire outbreak, ” a witness said.

AnambraDaily gathered that the conductor of the tanker who was with the driver on the ill-fated trip was reportedly thrown off the moment the vehicle crashed and he died instantly, while the driver who sustained injuries was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was given medical treatment.

According to the witness, following a distress call around 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, the fire service promptly dispatched two firefighting crews from different stations, equipped with fire trucks and other essential equipment.

On arrival, the firefighters conducted a cooling operation to minimize the risk of combustion and successfully prevented the situation from escalating into an inferno.

According to a statement released on Monday by the Media and Publicity Unit of the State Fire Service, led by the State Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, the teams also managed to safely transload the remaining PMS into another tanker to ensure the area was secure.

In his official statement, Fire Chief Chiketa expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and extended sympathy to the injured driver and the owners of any affected property.

He reassured the public that the situation had been fully contained and urged everyone to go about their daily activities without fear.