Mixer crushes cab in Pasig; 5 dead

Five people were killed yesterday when a wayward cement mixer hit an electric post then fell on top of a taxi at around noon yesterday in Pasig City.

All the fatalities were occupants of the taxi. Cops have identified one of the fatalities as Patrick Santos, 7. The names of the other victims, including the parents of the boy and the taxi driver, were not yet available as of presstime.

Two of the survivors were identified as the boy’s sisters Kimberly, 5 and Kaye, 11. The third survivor was a teenager who was with Santos’ family at the time. The three had been listed in critical condition at the hospital. One was later reported to have died.

Police said the victims were on board a white Mitsubishi Lancer with license plates PWJ 756 and was at the corner of Amang Rodriguez Avenue and Ortigas Avenue when the cement mixer driven by Romeo Martos, 29, lost its brakes.

Martos managed to avoid vehicles ahead of him and was able to maneuver the mixer in the direction of a Meralco electric post.

The mixer was loaded with seven cubic meters of wet cement set to be delivered to Wack-Wack Subdivision in Mandaluyong City.

Because of the strong impact, the mixer fell on its side, crushing the taxi occupied by the Santos family.

Bystanders and motorists rushed to the wreckage and tried to save members of the Santos family.

Martos was also seriously injured after he was pinned inside the cab of the mixer.