1 killed, 13 hurt as runaway truck slams into houses in Taytay
MANILA, Philippines — A 68-year-old man was killed and 13 other persons, eight of them children, were injured when a 10-wheel truck carrying sand plowed through two houses in Taytay, Rizal on Tuesday after losing its brakes.
Police Officer 3 Gilbert Cabasag said the truck, driven by one Mark Trabalio, an alias, was on its way to Antipolo when the accident happened at Tikling in Barangay (village) Dolores at 4:15 a.m.
Jaimar Calextro, 21, the driver’s helper, told police the vehicle was going up a slope in the area when its brakes suddenly malfunctioned.
The truck was registered to one Iris Tan of Silang, Cavite
“The truck ended up moving backwards as it couldn’t carry the weight of the sand…. It ended up plowing through the two houses,” Cabasag said.
Calextro was uninjured as he managed to jump out of the vehicle, but it was not immediately clear if Trabalio sustained any injuries as he escaped after the accident.
Article continues after this advertisementA police report identified the fatality as Domingo Francisco.
Article continues after this advertisementCabasag said Francisco was sleeping in his room when the truck slammed into his house and ran over him.
“Napuruhan talaga siya (He took the brunt),” Cabasag said, adding Francisco remained trapped underneath one of the vehicle’s tires and house debris for more than two hours.
Rescuers managed to extricate him around 7 a.m., Cabasag said, after which he was taken to the Taytay Emergency Medical Center but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The report identified the injured living in the same house as Francisco as Anna Rose Valdez, 17; Marian Salles, 2; CJ Salles, 8; Glenda Salles, 26; Nicole Salles, 5; Johnric Salles,6; Angelo Francisco, 28; Marisa Francisco, 68; and Diane Abenon, 13.
In the adjacent house, the injured were John Lester Eustaquio, 6; John Lenon Eustaquio, 4; Eleanor Eustaquio, 33; and John Michael Eustaquio, 33, according to the report.
Cabasag said all the injured, who were sleeping at the time of the accident, were taken to the Taytay Emergency Medical Center.
“They all sustained slight injuries and have since been discharged,” Cabasag said.
A followup operation was ongoing for the authorities to determine the real name of Trabalio.
Cabasag said the driver faced charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property.
Calextro, meanwhile, he said, had been “invited for investigation.”
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