Diesel Explosion Claims One Life, Causes Traffic Gridlock in Calabar

By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar

The ever-busy Murtala Muhammed Highway, Calabar was Monday thrown into a bedlam following the explosion of a mini-van carrying drums of diesel suspected to be adulterated.

The explosion claimed the life of the driver of the van while other occupants managed to escape with injuries.

The incident caused rare traffic gridlock on the Highway which is the only land corridor for entrance into and exit from the Cross River state capital.

The Source Magazine gathered that the driver was on top speed and did not notice a speed bump around the Bebobsco bus stop on time prompting him to apply the brake suddenly leading to a spark and the subsequent explosion.

Motorists and commuters frantically tried to help put out the raging inferno to no avail.

The arrival of the men of Federal Fire Service Operations with their fire fighting truck could not do much to salvage the situation as both the driver and his van had already completely burnt into ashes before their arrival.

At the time of filing, this report carcass of the victim and the van were still blocking a section of the Highway.