‘Residents of the area scampered for safety as they thought the tanker was carrying inflammable content’
Scores of passengers on Wednesday escaped death when a tanker crashed at the popular Aroma junction in Awka, Anambra State.
The palm kernel laden truck coming from Enugu axis of the Awka-Onitsha expressway was descending the hill when the driver suddenly lost control and crashed.
Residents of the area scampered for safety as they thought the tanker was carrying inflammable content.
An eyewitness said the driver veered off the road while attempting to dodge a hummer bus said to be owned by Revenue agents, as well as scores of commuters waiting for vehicles at the junction.
“The driver was trying to dodge both the crowd of passengers waiting for bus as well as Revenue bus when it suddenly lost control and veered off the road.
“Immediately the palm kernel content started flowing, people thought it was fuel and started running, while those who parked their vehicles around the scene drove off,” the witness said.
When our correspondent visited the scene, some residents were seen scooping the contents, while fire fighters who arrived shortly after the incident assisted with water to neutralize the contents.
The area was immediately cordoned off as motorists were diverted to other routes to forestall any calamity.
