Pasay engineers want safety belts for Star City ride

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasay City Engineering Office has asked the Star City management to install safety belts in its Star Flyer ride after a 39-year-old man fell from it and died Saturday afternoon.

“This is just to make sure that the ride will be more secure despite our finding that it has no mechanical problem. Our initial finding showed that the Star City management is not at fault for what had happened. If the ride or any of its components are really defective then all of those who tried it, should have also (fallen),” City Engineer Edwin Javaluyas said.

They called for the installation of the safety belts but also recommended the ride’s indefinite closure.

Javaluyas said the local police is also conducting its own investigation of the incident.

Carmelito Peña, a stay-in cook at an eatery on F.B. Harrison street, sustained serious head injuries after he fell from the Star Flyer ride. He was rushed by Star City security personnel to the San Juan de Dios Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

An initial police report said parts of the Star Flyer ride loosened, causing Peña to fall to the ground. – Rhodina Villanueva