Man critical after overloaded vehicle roof collapses on him

CEBU, Philippines - A truck boy was seriously injured after he was pinned down under the roof of a delivery truck when it collapsed while on its way to deliver construction materials in Consolacion yesterday afternoon.

Allan Pangandoyon, 36, of Barili, Cebu reportedly suffered several fractured bones when the roof of the Isuzu Forward truck loaded with 600 pieces of steel bars collapsed and pinned him down. The delivery truck of Vic Enterprises was travelling at the Maguikay flyover on its way to deliver the construction materials to Consolacion when the incident happened at 1:30 p.m.

Pangandoyon was seated in between the driver, Edward Solijon, 38, of Dansoy, Danao City and another truck boy, Domingo Magsukay. Solijon suffered minor injury while Magsukay escaped unhurt.

It was Magsukay and Solijon with the help of the bystanders who pulled out Pangandoyon from inside the vehicle and rushed him to the St. Vincent Hospital in Cebu City.

Traffic investigators believe that the vehicle was overloaded causing its roof to collapse. But, Traffic Enforcement Management (TEAM) director Edwin Ermac said they could not charge the owner of the vehicle with overloading because they do not have the capability to determine whether the truck was loaded over its capacity.

“Kon ato silang ireklamo, sumbalikon unya ta og pangutana sa korte kon gi-unsa nato pag-determine nga over-capacity, di unya ta makatubag (If we will charge them for overloading we cannot justify it if the court will question us later),” Ermac admitted.

Yesterday’s accident has caused a traffic jam at the Maguikay flyover for over an hour prompting TEAM enforcers to tow the truck. Another delivery truck of Vic Enterprises later arrived and loaded the steel bars to continue its delivery to Consolacion town. (FREEMAN)