MANILA, Philippines—At least 21 people were injured when a fish truck and a trailer truck collided at a busy intersection in Quezon City early Thursday morning.
The driver of the delivery truck, Dolphy Olbina, was reportedly in critical condition following the crash at the corner of Edsa and Congressional Avenue in Barangay Apolonio Samson.
SPO4 Raymundo Layug, commander of the Quezon City Police District’s Traffic Sector 1, said the accident happened at around 3:45 a.m.
An initial investigation showed Olbina’s truck, which was loaded with fish, was cruising along Edsa’s southbound lane while the trailer truck, carrying a backhoe, was traveling on Congressional Avenue,
Upon reaching the street corner, the trailer truck driven by Oliver Gomez was about to make a turn when it collided with Olbina’s truck.
Layug learned that the delivery truck had just come from Navotas City with a cargo of fish and was on its way to Pasig City.
The fish truck also had 18 passengers sleeping in the back at the time of the accident.
The impact sent the passengers flying and onto the road, while Olbina and his two companions inside the truck were pinned in the wreckage.
Layug said it took rescuers more than an hour to extricate the delivery truck driver and two others.
Most of the injured passengers were helpers aged 16 to 17 years old and were rushed to the Quezon City General Hospital and the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment.
Olbina is in critical condition with a broken leg at the EAMC.
Gomez fled after the mishap but eventually gave himself up to authorities.
Layug said they will be filing a case of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries against Gomez.