Fumes knock out cabbie, passengers

Four persons, including a Japanese national were hospitalized after being downed by carbon monoxide poisoning inside a taxi in Makati City last Friday.

PO2 Dexter Castor identified the victims as Jesus Homillano, 56, driver of the Shimbei & Shaina taxi, and resident of Valenzuela City; Noreen Daley, 24, of Good Harvest, Sabarte Road, Caloocan City; Michelle Roxas, 22, North Crest Village, Bagumbong, Caloocan City; and Yutaka Iwamoto, 54, also of North Crest Village.

Police said the incident took place on Ayala Avenue corner De la Rosa Street in Makati’s Central Business District.

According to Castor, traffic was held up at the busy intersection when the taxi driven by Homillano failed to move after the traffic light turned green.

A number of curious motorists approached the vehicle and saw the driver and his three passengers unconscious in their seats.

The four were rushed to the Makati Medical Center for treatment. Based on the initial test results, the cab driver and his passengers were victims of carbon monoxide poisoning.

All four have been declared out of danger.

Police said the taxi was probably running with a defective air-conditioning system which caused the vehicle’s exhaust fumes to pass through the aircon vents. – Marvin Sy