The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Edo on Saturday confirmed the death of two persons in a road crash involving two articulated vehicles at the Ovia River near Benin.

The Tollgate Unit Commander, Mr Adewale Ameen, who confirmed the accident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, said the driver of one of the vehicles and his assistant were roasted in the inferno that engulfed the vehicles.

Ameen said that one of the vehicles was conveying petrol while the other was carrying rods.

“Both vehicles were coming from the same direction from the Lagos axis to Benin when the accident occurred before the Ovia River at about 3 p.m. on Friday.

“The tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petroleum product rammed into the truck carrying steel rods while they were descending the slope and there was an immediate explosion with the driver and his assistant trapped,’’ Ameen said.

“FRSC officials immediately took control and started diverting motorists to the Ogbemudia Farms axis to control traffic and prevent more accident,’’ he said.