A multiple collision in Marikina City on Wednesday morning claimed the lives of a teenager and a 51-year-old man and left 16 others injured.
The accident which involved five vehicles happened at 11:11 a.m. at the foot of a flyover on A. Bonifacio Avenue in Barangay Barangka. It started when Fernando Gimera lost control of the 10-wheel truck he was driving. Initial police investigation found out that the truck’s brakes malfunctioned, noting the absence of skid marks on the road.
According to Marikina police chief Senior Supt. Vincent Calanoga, the truck entered the city using the flyover, disregarding signs prohibiting heavy vehicles on the structure. Upon descent, Gimera lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a jeepney, causing a chain reaction which involved two vans and a motorcycle. The truck stopped only after it hit an electrical post.
The collision instantly killed Edison John Reyes, a 17-year-old engineering student of the Technological Institute of the Philippines who was on his way home, and Domingo Salvador. Both were in the passenger jeepney first hit by the truck.
Calanoga said the jeepney hit a van which bumped another van and a parked motorcycle. The police said it took at least four hours before rescue workers freed the truck driver from his vehicle.
Among the injured were bystanders or passengers of the other vehicles. Some of them were identified as Antonio Perez, Arnold Jamero, Reynante Nanoy, Joshua Gatpayt, Raymundo Laguna, Teodora Aquiray, Paul Jordan, Rannie Bon, Lolita Bernardo, Pepito Oloa, Carmela Asuncion, John Dante, Archie Riola, Alano de Leon and Eddie Boy Quisada. They were brought to Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center for treatment.
Calanoga said that the driver, who was also injured, would face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property.
Around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the flyover remained closed to all types of vehicles, causing heavy traffic on the alternate route, Marcos Highway.