Speeding train kills man

Living along the railroad tracks can really be dangerous.

A 50-year-old man was killed after he was sideswiped and dragged by a Divisoria-bound passenger train near his house in Sta. Mesa, Manila yesterday morning.

Police reports identified the victim as Bentorito Bukad, of 363 Parcel St., Sta. Mesa.

Investigation showed that Bukad was sitting outside his shanty along the railroad tracks at about 9:30 a.m. when the Philippine National Railways (PNR) train passed by.

Police said Bukad tried to enter his shanty but apparently moved too slow and was sideswiped by the train.

According to police, Bukad’s pants were snagged by the train, which passed so close near his shanty. Bukad was dragged by the train for five meters before finally stopping.

Meanwhile, a fire of still unknown origin struck a residential area in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday afternoon injuring a volunteer fireman and leaving at least P300,000 in damages.

Reports from the Manila Fire Department said the fire struck a two-story, four-door apartment along Instruccion Street at about 2:04 p.m.

The burned house located at 914 Instruccion Street was owned by a certain Myrna Bautista, reports said.

Lester Ching, a volunteer firefighter, sustained lacerations in his left leg after he tried to enter the burning apartment.

Firefighters managed to put out the blaze, which reached the third alarm, at about 2:45 p.m.

Arson investigators are now looking at the possibility that the fire was sparked by faulty electrical wiring. — Mike Frialde