A burning double-tanker gasoline truck sends smoke skyward in Montebello, Calif, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011. Thousands of motorists were stuck on a 10-mile stretch of freeway near Los Angeles after the big-rig tanker truck burst into flames Wednesday. No one was injured. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

At least three people escaped death by the whisker after a fuel tanker they were traveling on burst into flames between  Akyem New Jejeti and Sekyere on the Accra-Kumasi trunk road.

The tanker caught fire after colliding with an articulated truck Friday evening.

According to eyewitnesses, the fuel tanker driver and his mate were rescued before their vehicle went out in flames.

“There has been a head-on collision between a fully loaded tanker and an articulated vehicle between Akyem New Jejeti and  Sekyere on Accra-Kumasi trunk road; the two vehicles are in flames,” the eyewitness said.

He added: “Three people who are  seriously injured have been rescued by police and fire service personnel so far. The tanker driver and mate however managed to jump out before their vehicle burst into flames.”