Mishaps hold up traffic on 2 bridges

CEBU, Philippines - Two vehicular accidents created logjams at the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge yesterday morning.

At the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, an armored van came into contact with a car at around 10:30 a.m. while a ten-wheeler truck hit a railing at the Marcelo Fernan Bridge at past 11 a.m.

An armored van, with plate No. XEU-980 and owned by Safeguard Armor Security Corp. based in Plaridel Street in barangay Alang-alang, Mandaue City and a Honda Civic Hunchback car with plate No. YBP-405 and driven by Abraham Labrador Duarte, 32, were heading towards Lapu-Lapu City at the foot of the bridge along A.C Cortes Street in barangay Cambaro, Mandaue City when the accident occurred.

Only the car was damaged.

The accident held up traffic for almost two hours.

At the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, an Isuzu ten-wheeler hit the railings of the bridge after experiencing mechanical trouble.

Noel Ordinario, 22, of Iligan City, truck driver of Melencion Trucking based in barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City, was to deliver a truckload of coco lumber from Pier 2 to barangay Babag in Lapu-Lapu City when his vehicle’s engine allegedly failed.

For fear of hitting other vehicles, he decided to swerve his truck toward the railings, traffic investigators said.

His two helpers jumped off the truck as it neared the railings, afraid it would plunge into the sea.

The accident blocked traffic for three hours.

Rehabilitation of the UN Avenue in barangay Umapad, Mandaue City contributes daily to the overcrowding of the two bridges. (FREEMAN)