ANTIPOLO City, Rizal – For hours, traffic along the Ortigas Avenue Extension was at a standstill following a freak accident involving an 18-wheel truck, a commuter van, a tricycle and a motorcycle in Barangay San Roque of this component city.
According to Antipolo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Relly Bernardo, seven persons were injured after the van slammed into a truck triggering a multi-vehicle collision that also caused an almost 24-hour power outage in view of a fallen Meralco post.
Among those injured was UV Express driver Marcellito Vecino whose legs were pinned to the wreckage of his vehicle.
The truck driver has been placed under police custody pending the result of the investigation, according to Antipolo Police Chief Colonel Ryan Manongdo.
Witnesses claimed that the UV Express van tried to overtake at the sharp curve of the road – but failed to return to his lane and hit the truck instead.
“Ang direksyon ng truck nasa lane niya siya pero ang ebidensya nasa side ng truck. Ibig sabihin, sa side ng truck nagkaroon ng impact. Ibig sabihin nun at sinusuportahan ng witness na nag-overtake yung UV Express at hindi na niya nakabig pabalik sa sariling lane kaya tumama sa linya ng truck,” the provincial police chief said.
Truck driver Tammy Cerna told traffic investigators that he lost control of his vehicle after the van came into contact with his vehicle – “Umiwas ako sa gilid dire-diretso pa rin siya sa akin. Umiwas ako pero tinumbok pa rin niya ako… sinalubong ako. Pagkabangga niya sa akin nawalan ako ng kontrol.”
After colliding with the van, the truck hit a Meralco post which collapsed because of the impact, instantly causing a power outage in Antipolo. Debris and wires strewn along the road causing traffic build up which began to ease after one lane was opened at around 3:00 in the afternoon.
Traffic was back to normal at around 5:00 AM off the next day. Power supply was partially restored the following day.
#OpinYonRizal #Antipolo #FreakAccident #Traffic #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand