11 hurt in 15-vehicle smash-up

MANILA, Philippines - Three children and nine adults were injured in a 15-vehicle smash-up along South Luzon Expressway in Muntinlupa City yesterday.

Police Officer 3 Henry Saison, head traffic investigator, said a cargo truck containing sacks of rice lost its breaks while traversing the northbound lane of SLEX near the Bilibid Bridge in Barangay Poblacion about 11 a.m.

Driver Jose Sapo of Pagasa Grain Center Inc. truck (DWW 591) immediately hit a Toyota Revo in front of him, triggering the pile up that lasted for about 30 minutes.

Gil Onia of the Highway Patrol Group said the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals including Asian Medical Center and Ospital ng Muntinlupa. Saison refused to discuss what injuries the victims sustained pending the result of medico legal examination.

Saison said only 12 of the vehicle owners reported to the police. Owners of vehicles that sustained minor damages immediately left the area.

Details are still sketchy as of 6 p.m. due to the number of vehicles involved, Saison said.

In Parañaque City, a 30-year-old contractor died after his motorcycle got smashed between a bus and sports utility vehicle along Airport Road and Roxas Boulevard. Police said Ariel Babayin was trying to cut the bus and the SUV when he got hit. He died while undergoing treatment at the San Juan De Dios Hospital. Bus driver Israel Arellano has surrendered.