The Lagos state Fire Service has cautioned motorists to desist from reckless driving on highways to avoid crashes.
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The Acting Head of Lagos State Fire Service, Mrs Margret Adeseye, gave the warning in interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos following the spate of auto crashes, especially involving articulated vehicles on Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
She said such recklessness often lead to unnecessary fire incidents during crashes, unwarranted loss of lives and create hardship for road users.
The Acting Head of the Service said that many times due to such crashes, traffic was diverted to rescue other road users from gridlocks.
She explained that 60 per cent of the accidents which occurred on Kara or Otedola Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, could be avoided if motorists applied caution.
“I pray against the repeat of such fatal accidents on Nigerian roads, and sympathise with Nigerians who lost their lives, particularly, in the vehicular explosion on Kara Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, on June 21.
“The accident involved three tankers and one truck, with two of the tankers laden with petrol and one with gas. It happened after midnight.
“It was very painful to us that some Nigerians lost their lives in the incident and it is our prayer that the survivors will recover from their losses early,’’ she said.
According to Adeseye, the Service responded to the distress call by 12.46 am on June 21, and was able to work in partnership with officials from Ogun State Fire Service to put out the inferno.
She promised that LSFS would continue to deliver its service effectively in fulfillment of its mandate.