Woman burned alive in SLEX mishap

A woman in her late 20s was burned alive when her Toyota Altis burst into flames after slamming into the rear of a 10-wheeler truck loaded with hollow blocks along the South Luzon Expressway in Biñan, Laguna before midnight Tuesday.

Authorities identified the victim as Mary Joyce Caunan, of Calatagan, Batangas, through the vehicle registration form found in her car with license plate VEG 199.

Quoting witnesses, Orly Lanuza, radio operator of the Philippine National Construction Corp., said Caunan’s vehicle hit the truck with license plate WGR 499 near Southville Subdivision on the expressway’s northbound lane.

The impact of the collision threw the Toyota Altis to the middle island and minutes later, it burst into flames.

Lanuza said the truck driver tried to save Caunan but the fire kept him from getting near the car.

PNCC rescue teams arrived at the scene, but it took two firetrucks from Biñan and Carmona, Cavite to put out the fire.

Caunan was still strapped to the driver’s seat. Although her body was charred, she was still recognizable, Lanuza said.

Lanuza said no charges would be filed against the truck driver and operator because investigation showed that the former was driving on the expressway’s outer lane because of the heavy load. The outer lane is for slow-moving vehicles.

Besides, the truck had its tail lights on, Lanuza added.

It has yet to be determined what caused Caunan’s vehicle to hit the truck but Lanuza suspected that she might have miscalculated her distance from the truck.