Helper crushed between 2 oil tankers

A truck helper was pinned to death when a truck backed into him as he was transferring several cans of cooking oil into another truck at the compound of an oil manufacturing firm in Malabon Sunday.

Chief Inspector Antonio Ablaza, Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) chief, said 29-year-old Anthony Alonzo’s chest was crushed in the process. He was taken to the Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon but died along the way.

SPO1 Manuel de la Cruz Jr. said the incident occurred at around 5:40 p.m. Sunday at the Malabon Soap and Oil Co. in Barangay San Agustin, Malabon City. MSOC, which manufactures the Spring Oil brand, is owned by the family of Olympic shooting champion Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla.

Police have taken Eugenio Sola, 41, driver of a green Isuzu tanker (CFL-821) registered to Tungol Trading, into custody as they prepare to charge him with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

According to the police report, Sola had gone to sleep in the driver’s seat as the oil was being transferred from his truck to an oil tanker registered to MSOC.

An unnamed helper woke up Sola when the transfer was done and they could leave. Apparently still dazed from sleep, Sola backed up his truck and killed Alonzo. – Jerry Botial