SUV driver, 2 passengers injured; contractor’s truck was ‘overspeeding’ at exit of SRP tunnel, says Citom

A boom truck emerged from the SRP Tunnel in Cebu City at high speed and crashed into the rear of a Sports Utility Vehicle, triggering a six-vehicle smashup past 4 p.m. yesterday.

The collision injured the driver of the Toyoto Revo and a married couple on board.

It could have been worse as the impact had a domino effect on several north-bound vehicles on the South Osmena Road exit.

The couple, 58-year-old Henson Go and his wife Norma, were rushed to Chong Hua Hospital with their driver, Pedro Dublin of barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City. Initial reports said their injuries were minor.

Henson was sitting beside the driver while his wife was in the back seat.

The accident took place as rush hour traffic was building up.

The Rosch-7 truck with four men on board belonged to a private contractor of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco). It came from Talisay city after installing a high voltage transformer.

Traffic aide Hector Arcenal said the truck driver was speeding on his way out of the tunnel heading to Cebu City and that he misjudged the traffic ahead where cars had slowed down for a stop light on South Osmeña Road exit.

“Padung siya saka unya kusog kaayo ang dagan. Wala to siya nag-anticipate. Ga-tuo siya’g lahos-lahos,” he said.

(The driver was heading upward and going at high speed. He didn’t anticipate that cars ahead. He though it was straight-through traffic.)

The contractor’s truck first rammed the rear bumper of the Toyota Revo with plate number GPY-418.

This pushed the SUV forward to hit a black Mitsubishi Strada pickup . The force caused the pickup’s back portion to rear up in the air and land on the front hood of the red and silver Toyota Revo.

Further ahead, the pickup also rearended a Kia Spectra which crashed into a Mitsubishi L300 Van that later struck a multicab.

Lineman Rustom Antonio, 29, said their team of four in the Rosch -7 truck was heading back to the office in Talamban, Cebu City to call it a day when the mishap occurred.

The driver Parcial Gildardo, 53, was missing right after the collision when paramedics and police rushed to the crash site.

Gildardo later showed up at the Citom office, where he said he went to “get help”.

PO3 Welfredo Caperida, traffic investigator, said the truck driver’s license would be confiscated by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) pending investigation.

It’s up to the parties whether they would file a criminal complaint, he said.

He said car owners involved would file damage reports and the police would wait to see if a settlement would be reached for insurance claims to cover the cost of damage.

PO3 Caperida said yesterday’s accident was a case of “overspeeding.”

He said drivers should always adopt “defensive driving to avoid accidents” and be conscious of traffic conditions and vehicles around them.

The damaged cars have been brought to the CITOM office for further investigation.