Another Mandaue incident involves 7 vehicles, driver killed in Naga accident

CEBU, Philippines - A man was killed when the truck he was driving hit a tree in Barangay Uling, Naga City past midnight yesterday.

It took rescuers at least seven hours to extricate the body of Allan Lastimado, 50, from the driver’s seat.

Lastimado, a resident of Barangay Lutac, was delivering sand and gravel from Toledo City to Barangay Pangdan, Naga City when the accident happened, said Police Officer 3 Ken Cabrera of Naga City Police.

Lastimado reportedly stepped on the brake upon descending Naga-Uling Road, but it did not function.

He was struggling to control the steering wheel until the truck hit a Mahogany tree and overturned.

Bystanders in the area called for help from the police, who then tapped the Talisay City Fire Station personnel in the rescue operation.

Rescuers had to use a chainsaw in dismantling the truck’s driver’s seat. The body was removed from the vehicle after seven hours.

The victim was rushed to the hospital for possible treatment, but he was declared dead on arrival.

In a 24 Oras report, the victim’s sister, Mila Lastimado, said that prior to the incident, her brother expressed worry over the truck’s condition.

But the sister-in-law of the truck owner assured that the vehicle was in normal condition.

In 2013, a trailer truck and a passenger bus collided in the same spot that led to the death of 11 people.

Mandaue  accident

Meanwhile, heavy traffic congestion was experienced  in Mandaue City yesterday after a ten-wheeler Isuzu truck collided with six other vehicles, injuring several persons at the corner of H. Abellana Street, Barangay Canduman and Basak National Highway.

The accident happened around 8:30 a.m. when Gerardo Pepito, 52, company driver of Cenapro, Inc. based in Jagobiao, Mandaue City, was driving the truck (GCE 657) towards Mandaue City proper, said Senior Police Officer 1 Noel Catabas, field traffic investigator of Mandaue City Traffic Division.

 “Maayo pa man ang brake pag-gikan nako sa kompanya, pero nahibulong ko nga wala na man mopaak samtang nagdulhog na ko. Bisan og unsaon nako ug wahing, dili na man g’yud mohunong,” Pepito said.

The truck first hit Toyota Revo Wagon (GWK 541) then another Isuzu truck (GCT 294), driven by Benito Ybanez and owned by Cenapro, Inc.  The wagon’s driver was identified as Joy Capangpangan, 49.

“Pag-igo anang ten-wheeler sa Revo, nilikay siya padung sa pikas, busa naigo sad ni ang pasaheroan ug nagkanit-kanit na dayon,” a witness said.

 Pepito’s truck continued to move forward and hit another multicab.

Six persons inside the multicab were injured, including the driver, Ramon Alferez, 31.

The multicab also hit the right side of Ybañez’s truck and the back portion of an Isuzu van driven by Ronie Manatho, 35. Due to the strong impact, Manatho’s van also hit the rear portion of another Isuzu van driven by Rukami Demape, 25.

The multicab, which was coming from Danao City to Mandaue City, was sandwiched by the two Isuzu platform trucks driven by Pepito and Ybañez and was severely damaged.

The injured passengers were Monit Arnoco of Cot-cot, Lilo-an; Felicided Soliano of Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City; Jessica Nuñez, 17, of Compostela town; Roy Olinaves, 38, of Danao City; and Jeremiah Labalan, 36, of Cansaga, Consolacion. Alferez was injured on his leg.

They were brought to Mandaue City Hospital and Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City.

According to Catabas, Pepito is the party at fault and will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and damage to properties. Pepito is currently under police custody.

“Akong pahimangno sad aning mga driver ba nga kon dunay mga intersection, mominor unta sad ni sila aron kalikayan ang aksidente,” Catabas said. — (FREEMAN)