2 killed in 10-vehicle smashup in Taguig

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MANILA, Philippines—Two commuters were killed and six others were injured in a multiple collision on the northbound lane of C5 highway in Taguig City late Thursday night, authorities said.

Killed in the accident were jeepney passenger Paul Pajanto, 27, who succumbed to injuries at the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, and an unidentified fellow passenger wearing a red shirt and brown shorts who was run over and killed on the spot, said a report from Senior Inspector Fernando Lipala of the city police Vehicular Traffic Investigation Unit.

Three trucks, three passenger jeepneys, three private cars and a mobile patrol car of the Taguig police collided in a domino effect near the overpass in Barangay Pinagsama at around 11:30 p.m.

The first collision, involving a truck driven by Ronaldo Mendoza, was cruising on the center of the lane when it suddenly veered right and accidentally slammed into the rear of a public utility jeep, driven by Dario Arcalas Aquino, that was unloading passengers.

The impact caused the still unnamed fatality, who was standing at the jeepney entrance, to be thrown to the pavement and crushed under the right rear wheel of the truck. Seven of the passengers, including Pajanto, were rushed to the hospital for various injuries.

The jeepney also rear-ended another jeepney, which in turn slammed into a Taguig City police patrol car parked by the roadside, Lipala’s report showed.

Meanwhile, the left lane was not spared, when a truck hit the back of a taxi that was unaccounted for amid the chaos. As the taxi fled, a Honda City crashed into the back of another truck. A Toyota Fortuner crashed into the back of the Honda City, which was then pushed into the rear of a Mitsubishi Lancer, which sideswiped another passenger jeepney on its right.

Two counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, and complaints of multiple physical injuries and damage to property, were being prepared against some of the drivers involved.