4 dead, 9 hurt in 4 truck mishaps

MANILA, Philippines - Four people were killed and nine others were hurt in four separate traffic mishaps, all involving trucks, in Metro Manila since Sunday morning.

In Taguig City, truck helper Richard Parado, 24, was killed while seven others were injured when a 14-wheeler truck filled with sand slid back into seven other vehicles along a steep section of C-5 Road before dawn yesterday.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Metrobase, the 14-wheeler truck (UNE-539) – owned by Treasure Rock Mover Construction, based in Cabuyao, Laguna – was cruising along a steep section of the C-5 Road near Market Market and the elevated U-turn slot at about 3:30 a.m. when its driver lost control and the truck began rolling back.

The truck then slammed into the vehicles following it. It collided with another truck (TKL-521) carrying glass panels, causing a pileup.

The truck carrying the glass panels slammed into a taxi (TXP-314), which hit another taxi (UVP-876), a third taxi (UVX-860), a Toyota Innova van (NQM-407), a Mitsubishi Mirage (VOK-417) and another truck (WSU-554).

Parado was riding in the truck carrying the glass panels. His fellow helper, Patrick Alejandro, was rushed to the hospital after his legs were pinned down by eight glass panels, each half an inch thick.

According to Makati rescue personnel, the truck Parado was riding burst into flames and toppled on its side after it was hit by the sand-filled truck. The driver and another helper of the truck carrying glass panels suffered first-degree burns and lacerations from the broken glass.

Six other persons were rushed by rescue personnel from Makati and the MMDA to the nearby Ospital ng Makati for emergency treatment.

The driver and helper of the sand-filled truck fled the scene. They were later identified by the Taguig traffic management office as driver Larry Mirandilla and helper Jeric de Guzman.

The accident caused a traffic jam that lasted several hours, authorities said.

Rolling gasoline tanker

Five-year-old Jovielyn Virana died while her neighbors Danilo Romagat, 41, and Nerissa Monteporo, 66, were hurt when a gasoline tanker hit them in Pasig City at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Virana died on the way to the Rizal Medical Center, where her neighbors are being treated.

The tanker’s driver, Junval Orialla, 35, had just unloaded the cargo at a gasoline station along Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue when he removed a large stone he put under one of the tanker’s wheels to keep the vehicle from moving, Police Officer 3 Gil Pedera said.

However, the tanker (RJH-119) started rolling and hit the victims. Virana was playing with other children while her neighbors were chatting on the sidewalk.

Gasoline station attendant Ronnie Sarenas told police Orialla ran after the truck but failed to stop it. Orialla, who is being held at the Pasig City police detention center, will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple frustrated homicide, investigators said.

Biker, woman run over

A motorcycle rider and a woman were killed when trucks ran over them in Manila and Valenzuela Sunday.

Honey Desuyo, 25, was about to cross Road 10 in Tondo when a speeding truck bound for one of Manila’s ports ran over her and crushed her skull at around 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Senior Police Officer 3 Rey Fernandez said.

Truck driver Philip Juanchon, 34, was arrested and detained at the Manila Police District’s traffic enforcement unit in Port Area.

Desuyo left behind two children, Fernandez said.

Rodrigo Bonghanoy, 44 was riding a motorcycle along G. Lazaro street in Barangay Pasolo when he was hit by an oncoming truck driven by Russel Liwag, Valenzuela police chief Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento said.

Bonghanoy was thrown from the motorcycle and the truck’s rear tire crushed his head. Liwag was arrested and charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, Armamento said. – Mike Frialde, Non Alquitran, Aie Balagtas See, Rey Galupo