11-vehicle smashup jams Marcelo Fernan Bridge in Cebu

NEW BRIDGE VEHICULAR ACCIDENT. Mandaue Traffic personnel removes one of the 11 vehicles involved in a vehicular accident in Mandaue City new bridge. CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON

CEBU CITY – Eleven vehicles collided at the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, which connects mainland Cebu to Mactan Island, after a 20-footer prime mover lost its break and rammed into the other vehicles on Monday morning.

The incident, which occurred around 11 a.m., caused heavy traffic in the area since both lanes of the bridge were blocked by the vehicles, said Glenn Antigua, operation chief of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM).

Antigua also said only one lane was opened for vehicles heading to Lapu-Lapu since one vehicle was hit and has jammed the other lane.

Only small vehicles could pass through the Mandaue-bound lane, he added.

The 20-footer prime mover truck lost its brakes while crossing the bridge heading to Mandaue, authorities noted.

The truck hit the vehicle on its front, triggering a domino-effect that reached nine more vehicles before it.

No one was hurt but some children on board a Toyota Innova were rushed to the hospital due to apparent trauma.

Traffic authorities were able to pull out seven affected vehicles as of Monday noon.   /kga