1 dead, 1 hurt as tanker hits 2 vehicles in Manila
A motorcycle rider was killed when an oil tanker with a 72-year-old man behind the wheel lost its brakes and crashed into the vehicle and a car on Monday morning in Manila.
Justino Ociel Jr., 38, a resident of Welfareville Compound in Mandaluyong City, died on the spot while Rommel Raquid, the driver of a Honda Civic, suffered minor injuries.
The police said the driver of the oil tanker owned by United Oil Petroleum Philippines, fled from the scene for fear of being mobbed, along with his helper.
However, before he left, Isabelo Ortiz turned over his driver’s license to Ramon Cano, a member of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, who was at the scene.
Manila Police District Traffic Enforcement Unit head Supt. Reynaldo Nava said the accident happened at around 10 a.m. at the corner of New Panaderos and A. Bautista Streets in Punta, Sta. Ana.
He added that Ortiz and his helper had come from the Pandacan oil depot and were on their way to Mandaluyong City when the oil tanker he was driving lost its brakes as it was coming down Lambingan Bridge.
Traffic investigator SPO4 Sergio Macaraig told the Inquirer that Ortiz apparently tried to stop by steering toward the center island but he hit the car and the motorcycle which had both stopped at a red light.
Ociel was thrown off his motorcycle while the truck hit the right of the car. The oil tanker, on the other hand, came to a stop in front of a hardware store after it ran over a tarpaulin sign.
