The fuel-laden tanker crushed th people near a traffic light along the old Lagos/Asaba road in the hilly town.

The woman whose identity is yet to be ascertained and her two children were said to be returning from school on a motorbike.

Three other persons were seriously injured while five vehicles were destroyed .

Eyewitness account said the driver of the tanker who was ascending the Orogodo River hill lost control as a result of brake failure.

In the confusion, the tanker started to roll back, thereby dragging the motorbike along after crushing the woman, her two children and three others.