Tema, Jan 07, GNA - The timely arrival of fire personnel at an accident scene on the Accra-Tema motorway saved a fuel tanker carrying aviation turbine kerosene for the Ghana Civil Aviation from burning into ashes. The tanker with registration number AS 278 A from Tema had reached a point near the Coca Cola Factory, when the accident occurred, around 1100 hours on Saturday.

It took personnel from the Ashaiman branch of the Ghana Fire Service ten minutes to bring the fire under control, Assistant Fire Station Officer, Mr Thomas Oku told the Ghana News Agency at the scene. They were however, joined by firemen from the Tema Oil Refinery, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, as well as those from the National Fire Office.

Mr Oku said the driver was rushed to hospital with some injuries and reports from there said he was in a stable condition, while the driver's mate escaped unhurt.

An eyewitness said a vehicle behind the tanker was trying to overtake it and in the process of the tanker swerving onto the other lane for overtaking vehicle to pass, it fell on its side and burst into flames.

The accident slowed down traffic on the motorway and the personnel of the Tema Motor Traffic and Transport Unit came in to control it.

At the time of leaving the scene people around including the driver's mate were siphoning the kerosene from the accident tanker into another one. Jan 07, 06