A petrol-laden tanker collided with a vehicle and crashed into a road barrier opposite the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office along the Ihiala stretch of the Onitsha–Owerri Road on Sunday, sparking a massive fire that killed two people and injured another.
The crash, which occurred at about 9:30 a.m., sent commuters and nearby traders scrambling as fuel from the ruptured tanker ignited shortly after the impact.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker was travelling at high speed before it lost control and slammed into the barricade.
“Immediately after the collision the tanker burst into flames. The blast also engulfed a motorcycle that was trailing behind,” one witness said.
“The driver and his conductor were burnt beyond recognition, while the rider of the motorcycle was badly hurt and rushed to hospital.”
Margaret Onabe, the FRSC Sector Public Education Officer in Anambra State, confirmed the crash, saying two people died on the spot while a third was rescued with injuries.
She said that the tanker reported to have no registration number and the unregistered motorcycle were the only vehicles involved.
“A fatal road traffic crash was recorded today, February 8, 2026, opposite the FRSC office in Ihiala. The probable cause was excessive speed and loss of control,” Mrs. Onabe said.
She added that the injured man was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
Rescue teams from FRSC unit RS5.34 immediately contacted the fire service, and both agencies worked together to bring the blaze under control and clear the scene.
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The explosion and subsequent inferno caused heavy traffic congestion along adjoining roads until emergency crews restored order.
Mrs. Onabe extended condolences to the families of the victims and urged motorists to obey speed limits and exercise caution on the highways.
“Drive to stay alive; safety is everyone’s business,” she said.
