Cordova resident crushed under van

For trying to find cover from the rain, a woman died after a 40-foot container van trailer collapsed on top of her in FF Cruz, North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City last Saturday evening, police said yesterday.

PO3 Marvin Fegarido of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) identified the victim as Monica Folkestad, a resident of Cordova town.

The rain loosened the soil under the container van, causing it to fall down.

Fegarido said they were unable to identify Folkestad initially and it was only later when the victim was identified by her live-in-partner, a certain Pato, through her worn clothes.

Folkestad’s remains was brought to Rolling Hills for autopsy. Fegarido said she was declared dead by personnel of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) while she remained under the van.

Witnesses said the victim was going from one container van to another in a vacant lot owned by Cebu Ace Trucking Corp. to avoid getting soaked by the rain since there were no waiting sheds nearby.

Folkestad met 22-year-old Wendel Flores and 20-year-old Miguelito Rosal, both employees of Alrey Cargo Forwarding who were also taking cover from the rain at a container van.

Flores told Cebu Daily News that he and Rosal talked with Folkestad, who told them that she was waiting for her live-in-partner who was also working in a trucking company.

The victim transferred to a maroon container van that was supported by a pile of wood.

When the rain softened the soil, some of the wood slipped and caused the container van to fall down on top of Folkestad.

Flores said he and Rosal were about to move to a nearby tree when they heard the loud thud caused by the 40-foot container van.

He said they heard Folkestad call for help but they were unable to do anything since the victim was stuck under the van.

Alexander Sibonga, security guard of Cebu Ace, called up the crane operator stationed 20 meters away and he operated the telescopic crane that lifted the container van on top of Folkestad.

Insp. Ramil Morpos,  IDMB deputy chief, said they will investigate the incident. /Jucell Marie P. Cuyos, Correspondent