A heavy-duty truck carrying bottled water on Saturday crashed at Hawan-Kibo, on the Jos-Abuja highway in a lone accident, leaving scores of motorists and commuters stranded in an unusual gridlock.

Peter Longsan, the Plateau Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) spokesperson, confirmed the development to journalists in Jos.

Mr Longsan said the accident occurred at about 4:00 p.m., adding that the tanker fell crossing the highway and blocking both lanes.

“A water tanker fell on the highway around Hawan Kibo, Jos-Abuja road; it fell and crossed the road, leaving a lot of motorists stranded.

“But our men are already on ground, making frantic efforts to clear the road and ease traffic flow.

“We appeal to motorists to be patient and not panic; our men will soon clear the road,” Mr Longsan said.

Mohammed Suleiman, a witness at the scene, who was on his way to Abuja from Jos, said commuters had been stranded there for many hours without movement from either side of the road.

“No vehicle is moving from both sides; those going to Abuja from Jos, and even those coming from the North-East, cannot go further. Ditto for those coming from Abuja either to Jos or the far north,” Mr Suleiman said.

He noted that hope for the stranded passengers seemed to be in sight as officials of the FRSC were mobilising to the area to remove the vehicle and ease the gridlock.

Hawan Kibo is often a flash point of ghastly accidents, usually involving heavy-duty vehicles, which find ascending the hilly area a herculean task.

(NAN)