3 hurt after truck loses brakes

CEBU, Philippines - Three container van workers were injured after a 10-wheeler truck lost its brakes and hit a taxi unit, a private vehicle, an electric post and a house yesterday afternoon along Veterans Drive St. in Apas, Cebu City.

Two truck boys, who were immediately rescued by members of Apas Emergency Response Team (AERT), were identified as Remegildo “Bebot” Pimentel and Elson Bravo, both workers of Ocean Transport.

The truck driver, Jerwin Capilitan, had a hard time getting out of his seat because the van ended up against a wall.

It took personnel from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) an hour to get Capilitan out of the van. The trailer van, owned by Jerry Uy, was from Maria Luisa Subdivision in Busay carrying several tons of limestone.

Mario Guardiana, a mechanic of Ocean Transport, had advised Capilitan to use low gear after Capilitan complained that something was wrong with the brakes.

“Nagsunod mi nila sakay mi sa multicab, hinay pa ang ilang dagan apan pag-abot diha sa Marco Polo Hotel nikusog ang dagan duda ko nag-change gear to ang driver mao na ang pag-apply og brake ug pagbalik sa premiera mag-lisod na siya,” Guardiana said. (We were on a multicab behind them. They were driving slow at first but we noticed they picked up speed near the Marco Polo Hotel. Maybe he changed gear so he had difficulty applying the brakes.)

“If he only listened to my advice to stick with the first gear, the accident would not have happened,” added Guardiana.

Upon reaching the PC hills apartment, the truck first hit a taxi unit, then a Hyundai car with plate number GPJ 265 driven by Aurello Abellana.

It also damaged the laundry area of the house of Miedy Tion and a Veco post.

“Swerte nga way naglaba niadtong higayona ug wa sab makalahos ang truck sa kuwarto kay tua ra ba ang akong mama ug akong tulo ka anak natug,” Tion said. (We’re so lucky the truck did not reach the bedroom area where my mother and 3 children were sleeping.)

Carmelita Bulanon, representative of Ocean Transport, assured the families of the victims and the owners of the two vehicles and house that they will pay for the damages.

The accident yesterday afternoon caused a few hours of traffic, especially for cars going up to Busay area. The CITOM personnel only used a single lane after the trailer van occuppied half of the lane of the Veterans Drive.

The three victims are now confined at Perpetual Succour Hospital. — (FREEMAN)