Toll employee dead in SLEX accident

SAN PEDRO CITY—An employee of the Manila Toll Expressway Systems Inc. (MATES), the operator of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), died in the accident involving an 18-wheeler truck, which caused heavy traffic on SLEX’s southbound lane in Biñan City in Laguna province.

Brendo Abrera from Calamba City, also in Laguna, died in a hospital in Biñan, according to Eugene Reyes of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the driver of the MATES patrol vehicle, Romel Cabanilla from Cabuyao City, Laguna, was injured, according to the city’s rescue office.

The accident happened Monday afternoon near the SLEX’s Southwoods Exit.

Babsie Aragon, MATES’ media relations officer, declined to give any information saying the investigation was being handled by the police Highway Patrol Group.

Reyes said they were called in to help in the rescue after the

18-wheeler truck fell on its side, and pinned down a pick-up truck, which as it turned out was MATES’ patrol car. He said the truck’s driver was nowhere on the scene when they arrived.

Reyes said they had to cut open the MATES’ vehicle to extract

Abrera and Cabanilla.

“What we don’t understand was why both (vehicles), including the truck, was on the fast lane,” Reyes added.# Maricar Cinco,

@maricarcincoINQ,