MANILA, Philippines — A 58-year-old man driving a car on J.P. Rizal Extension in Makati City died in an accident involving yet another cement mixer truck, which the Metropolitan Manila Development has recently classified as a dangerous vehicle from which other vehicles must keep a safe distance.
But Makati traffic investigators said Alberto Sese, a resident of West Rembo, who was killed in the crash, occupied the wrong lane on JP Rizal Extension in Barangay (village) Cembo at 2 a.m. on Sunday.
According to an initial report of Senior Police Officer 1 Rommel Salvador, investigator on case, the cement mixer truck (WAP-356) driven by Renate Pepe, 38, was on the right lane when it knocked the car on its way.
The report, however, did not make it clear which vehicle was traversing the northbound or southbound lane of the two-way street.
Sese who was inside his Honda Civic car (WRX481) was pinned underneath the cement mixer and was already dead when pulled out by members of the Makati city government’s rescue team, police said.
Although the police have yet to determine his criminal liability, the truck driver has been taken into police custody.
Earlier, the MMDA has issued guidelines requiring the drivers and operators of heavy vehicles carrying cement to have signs warning other motorists to keep a safe distance from them.
According to a memorandum order signed by MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino, all the drivers and operators of cement mixer trucks should put the warning sign “Loaded with Concrete — Keep Distance.”
The new rule came out in response to the accident last April when a 21-year-old student was crushed to death by a cement mixer truck.