8 hurt as fuel tanker slams into truck, jeepney

MANILA, Philippines – Eight people were injured when a fuel tanker collided with a dumptruck and a passenger jeepney along EDSA in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

Senior Police Officer 2 Reynaldo Patiag said the accident happened at a U-turn slot at the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue when the tanker, traveling along EDSA’s northbound lane, hit the right side of the truck and rear-ended the jeepney at around 4 a.m.

The jeepney rolled over while the tanker’s chassis broke off, causing several liters of fuel to spill onto the road.

Patiag said the injured persons were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment. Rogelio dela Cruz, the tanker’s driver, sustained leg injuries.

Jeepney passenger Marissa Salacob suffered a laceration on her back. Another passenger, Mary Pacus, sustained head injuries. Five other jeepney passengers, most of whom sustained minor injuries in the collision, were unidentified.

Patiag said Dela Cruz claimed his brake pedal failed, causing the tanker he was driving to hit the two other vehicles taking the U-turn slot. 

Patiag said he suspects Dela Cruz was speeding, noting there were no skid marks on the downward-sloped portion of EDSA that would have indicated if Dela Cruz slowed down or stepped on the brakes.

It took about 30 minutes for a fire truck to wash the spilled fuel, Patiag said, adding they “believe the spilled fuel was diesel since gasoline would have resulted in combustion, with the friction from the wires of the damaged tanker. That did not happen in this case.”