Roller crushes driver

CEBU, Philippines -  A road roller operator died after being pinned under the machine when he and two others figured in an accident in Barangay Lubo, Sogod town in northern Cebu yesterday morning.

Pepito Moneva, a Department of Public Works and Highways employee died on the spot after his body got crushed by the weight of the road roller.

His helpers, Rene Boy Cinido and Glen Villegas, suffered injuries but cheated death by jumping off the road roller before it rolled over.

PO1 Tirso Sol, Sogod Police Station desk officer, said in a telephone interview that the Moneva was driving the road roller from Logo, Borbon town and was going to Mohon, Borbon when the incident happened past 8a.m.

When the victims reached Lubo, the rear tire of the road roller exploded causing Moneva to lose control of the heavy equipment.

Cinido ang Villegas managed to jump out but Moneva failed to follow suit before road roller fell down a roadside ravine.

Responding policemen and local residents quickly rushed to the site and retrieved Moneva from under the road roller, which, except for his head, crushed him.

Moneva was brought to the Juan Dosado Memorial Hospital in Sogod where he was officially declared dead due to his severe injuries.

Cinido and Villegas were brought to the same hospital after the accident for immediate treatment.  Villegas was advised by his attending physicians to be transferred to a hospital in Cebu City for further treatment. (FREEMAN)