3 children die as tanker falls

Three children were killed when an LPG tanker truck lost control and fell into a residential area in Taguig the other day.

SPO4 Cris Hadlocon of the Taguig Police Traffic Unit said the incident took place at around 3:30 p.m. last Friday along the southbound lane of C-5 Road. The victims were identified as Jomel Crucio, 5; his brother Junjun, 4; Angelica Luna, 4, all residents of Cosmos St., Barangay Pembo, Makati City.

Based on the investigation, the LPG tanker (DVA-624) driven by Thelmo Morin, 47, stay-in driver of Northpoint International Ventures Corporation located at Sgt. Rivera street in Quezon City, was headed for Batangas City when the incident took place.

Hadlocon said that a Toyota Corolla sedan overtook the tanker while it was approaching the accident site. As the car darted in front of the truck, the car driver abruptly applied his brakes, causing Morin to react and step hard on his own brakes.

At this point the truck lost its brakes and veered towards the shoulder of C-5 then fell into a ditch. A number of squatters reside in the area and at the time, several children were playing around the ditch.

The Crucio brothers died on the spot as a result of being hit by the truck while their playmate, Angelica, was declared dead-on-arrival at the Ospital ng Makati.

Five persons were also injured including the tanker’s driver and his helper, all of whom were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati.

The others injured were identified as Judith Cena, 26; Eric Oliver Cena, 7; and Antonio Luna. Morin is now under the custody of the Taguig police and will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in three counts of homicide and multiple physical injuries.

Meanwhile, four persons were hurt after the passenger jeepney they were riding on was rammed by a 10-wheeler truck in Malate, Manila the other day.

Police identified the injured as Herman Larrosa, Marites Aisa, Melchor Amagderaong, and Jun Hermosora. All four are now undergoing treatment at the Philippine General Hospital.

The truck driver who later surrendered to police, was identified as Randy Montreal, 35, a resident of Quezon City.

According to police, the accident happened at about 4 a.m. at the corner of Pedro Gil and Adriatico streets. Police said Montreal’s truck was speeding on Pedro Gil street when it hit the Divisoria-bound jeepney with plate number PYL-621.

Police said Montreal sped-off after the incident, prompting taxi driver Roberto Mendoza to chase him.

Mendoza, police said, caught-up with Montreal upon reaching C-3 Road in Navotas and then persuaded him to surrender to the Traffic Management Group of the Western Police District. – Marvin Sy and Mike Frialde