Reclining Meralco post crushes to death guard

A 46-year-old lady guard was crushed to death while a child was injured when a newly installed Manila Electric Co. post collapsed pinning down the victims Saturday night in Malabon City.

Nella Guzar, a security guard employed by Multilink Inc., and of 21 Atis Road, Brgy. Potrero, Malabon, died before reaching the Manila Central University (MCU) hospital while Christine Gusi, 4, her neighbor, sustained abrasions mostly in the head and face.

Police said that at about 9:15 Saturday night, Guzar was buying mami from an ambulant vendor identified as Leoncio Gusi, 54, along Atis Road, when a loud cracking sound from a nearby Meralco electric post was heard. It was followed by a blast and suddenly the post fell down directly to where Guzar, Gusi and his daughter Christine were standing, police investigator PO2 Redentor Mantala Jr. said.

Guzar tried to avoid the collapsing post but failed. It fell straight on her back, Mantala said.

Gusi was able to pull his daughter away but was still knocked off by the falling electric post that also totally crumpled the pushcart containing the mami.

Residents came to Guzar’s rescue and rushed her to the MCU hospital where attending physician Dr. Joselito Go pronounced her dead on arrival (DOA).

Mantala said that last week, Meralco personnel installed the electric post in the area which residents later observed to be leaning but did not give much attention to it. – Pete Laude