Fire truck rams into 7 vehicles, injures 10

At least 10 people were injured after a fire truck of the Lahug Fire Sub-Station reportedly lost its brakes and rammed into at least seven vehicles along M.J. Cuenco Avenue yesterday morning.

Of the victims, only 22-year-old Ricardo Lasparilla, a jeepney conductor from Wireless, Mandaue City, suffered a leg injury after being hit by the fire truck.

"Grabi nahadlok mi nga maputol ang iyang tiil," said FO1 Wendell Villanueva, information officer of the Cebu Provincial Fire Office.

A six-month-old boy also miraculously survived the incident. Niño Gems Cutang suffered only minor bruises in the head and was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center.

Those who were brought to the CCMC were identified as Elma Cutang, 16, Agnes Madjos, Romeo Fua, Jocelyn Sabas, Pedro Cuenca, Fritz John Sala, Marilyn Roal and Gilbert Galapin. The other injured - Miriam Codilla, 28, Marites Sanchez, 38, Favilla Duarte, all of Mabolo - are presently confined at the Perpetual Succour Hospital.

SFO2 Felix Romero, investigator of the Cebu City Fire Department, said they are conducting a separate investigation into the incident in response to the directive issued by BFP regional director Victoriano Remedio.

He said they are closely coordinating with the Cebu City Traffic Division in their investigation. "Ang buhaton sa among buhatan mao lang ang pakig-alayon sa traffic division kay sila mao man gayud ang adunay katakos paghimo sa imbestigasyon."

Traffic investigator SPO3 Ronilo Ermac said they have summoned some witnesses to shed light over the incident.

At least two public utility vehicles, including a taxicab, and three service vehicles were damaged. "Kusog kaayo ang padagan sa fire truck uy," said a vendor who asked not to be named.

But the fire truck driver, SFO1 Floro Soco, denied that he was over-speeding upon crossing M.J. Cuenco Avenue.

"Disgrasya gyud ug dili gyud tinuod nga kusog ang akong padagan kay corner na gyud to unya nganong magdali man mi nga wala may alarma among gitubag," Soco said.

Soco stressed that the weight of the truck also contributed to the impact of the collision. "Puno sad kaayo ang tubig plus na basiyo man gyud ang brake maong wala na gyud koy nahimo. Ok man siguro ang truck pero di sab ta kasiguro especially dugay na kaayo ning mga fire truck basin duna nay mga defect."

American Richard Gibson, 50, told traffic investigators that he was riding his vehicle with his 12-year-old daughter when the back of his car was bumped. He and his daughter were however unhurt during the incident.

The fire truck left Lahug Fire Sub-Station around 9 a.m. for the City Hall to conduct roving patrol. The traffic division did not arrest Soco but only took his driver's license.

Soco and his crew were immediately investigated by Cebu City Fire Marshal Esmael Codilla to determine their liability. Codilla was convinced that there was really a problem with the vehicle's brakes but added that, "atong tan-awon kon silang upat ba ka crew ang pabayron tanan."

During the course of the investigation yesterday, it was found that the fire truck was not registered with the Land Transportation Office. LTO regional registration chief Alita Pulga said they have no computer records of the fire truck.

Codilla, however, admitted that some of their fire trucks were not registered with the Land Transportation Office due to documentary problems since some of the vehicles came from donations abroad. He said the payment for the registration should came from the regional office of Bureau of Fire Protection.

"Ang budget naa man gyud makagikan sa regional office ug igo ra mi diri hatagan ug sticker sa LTO kun marehistro na," said Codilla. - Ramil V. Ayuman and Jose P. Sollano