Wednesday, March 7, 2012

3 dead, scores hurt as truck rams 8 vehicles

By Myds Supnad

ROSALES, Pangasinan- Three died while 12 others were seriously injured afternoon Feb. 24 when a wayward Isuzu forward cargo truck rammed eight other vehicles here around 1:30 p.m. in Barangay Carmen.

Reports received by Senior Supt. Rosueto Ricaforte, Pangasinan police director, said the wayward truck with plate number RDJ 780 loaded with vegetables and driven by Alex Cuenco of Pines Park, La Trinidad, Benguet was then on the way to Manila from Baguio City when the incident occurred along the bridge in Mc Arthur highway in Carmen.

Police said that truck hit from behind three tricycles, two motorcycles, an owner type jeep and then bumped head on collision to another truck.

As the truck collided head on to another incoming truck, it skidded to a cement ornamental box in front of the gasoline station.

As a result, 15 persons were crushed and injured seriously.

But three of them were declared dead on arrival as a passersby was brought to a hospital.

The driver was immediately apprehended but said his truck lost its brake during the incident.

Meanwhile, Rosales police director Chief Insp. Jackson Seguin said the vehicles involved were three trucks, three tricycles, two motorcycles and an owner-type jeep.

He said the truck, while descending from the Don TeofiloSison Bridge in Carmen village (at the foot of which is a cross-road/junction), the truck’s break malfunctioned causing the driver to lose control.

Seguin said the delivery truck first smashed the three tricycles, two motorcycles and an owner-type jeep, with a dump truck at the far front. It also collided with a northbound dump truck.

It later skidded at the right and hit the concrete ornamental box in front of the Shell gasoline station.

Seguin identified the fatalities as 23-year-old Marijoy Gutlay (reported to be pregnant) of Carmay West, Rosales, and 19-year-old Rowena Callorina of Barangay Arzadon, San Manuel, both riding the tricycle; 45-year-old Ferdinand Ancheta of Carmen East, Rosales who was driving the tricycle; and 26-year-old Jayson Flores of Balungao town, back rider of the motorcycle.Injured were identified as Elsa Nagtalon, Rafael Villanueva, Virgilio Estabillo, Blissie Jacel Vinluan, Yben Vinluan, Eril Laurenzo Vinluan, Isagani Laurea, Mary Grace Laurea, Patrick Jasper Laurea, Soniafe Laurea, Clarife Sandaga, Romano Cabantac and Rabel Garcia.
The injured victims were rushed to different hospitals.

Seguin said Cuenco is now in the custody of the Rosales Police Station.Police are preparing to file charges against him in court for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple serious physical injuries and multiple damage to properties.

Seguin said traffic flow has already normalized along the national highway where the collision happened as the trucks were towed at the road shoulder.

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