Truck blows 6 tires, engine along NLEX

MANILA, Philippines -    A trailer truck loaded with empty tanks of liquefied petroleum gasoline blew six of its tires and its engine while passing the Valenzuela City portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) yesterday morning.

City fire marshal Superintendent Mel Jose Lagan said the truck (CCU-631) driven by Ray Martin, an employee of ETC Trading Inc., was passing Kilometer 14 in Barangay Gen. T. de Leon when six of its 10 tires burst.

The truck suddenly stopped in the middle of the highway. The driver alighted from the vehicle a few minutes before the engine exploded.

NLEX authorities called for assistance from firefighters. Traffic was snarled for about two hours before the truck was towed.

Mechanics said the engine propeller became disengaged, causing the engine to explode. No one was reported killed or injured in the explosion. Traffic investigators said the damage caused by the explosion reached P500,000.