Another senseless death at SLEX

[hagiber]

1 dead, 4 hurt in field trip mishap
By Edu Punay
The Philippine Star 10/01/2004

A 32-year-old driver was killed while at least four grade school students were hurt when their service van was hit by a 16-wheeler truck on the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Parañaque City yesterday.

The group was going to Manila for an educational trip from Labo, Camarines Norte on board a Hyundai Grace van (EVG-999) when Roberto Mago, the driver, pulled over to the service lane to replace a flat tire at around 4:30 a.m.

PO3 Arthur Cortez of the Traffic Management Group said Mago had just finished changing the front left tire and about to start the van when a speeding delivery truck (UCP-110) suddenly rammed their vehicle and dragged it some five meters to the gutter.

Mago was decapitated.

"Naputol ’yung ulo at nabasag pa ’yung mukha," Cortez said.

Four of the students inside the van sustained injuries and were rushed to the Makati Medical Center. Police identified them as Rowena Samonte, Nida Nareses, Cristel Alforte and Edna de Jesus.

The incident also caused heavy traffic at the SLEX for more than an hour.

Probers said there were more passengers inside the van and may have been rushed to another hospital.

"When we arrived at the area, the students were no longer there," Cortez said.

He said the truck driver, identified by a companion as Bienvenido Sitasato of the Caloocan-based PNJ Distribution System, fled on foot after the incident.

The companion, Felicisimo Rapas, was invited to the traffic police office for questioning. He told investigators that he was also shocked by the incident, which had awakened him from his sleep.

Police advised motorists using the highway to take extra precaution when encountering engine trouble.

"Mabibilis talaga ang sasakyan dito kaya pagnasiraan ka, kailangan listo ka," Cortez said.

[1D4LV]

yup, nakita ko kahapon yan "fresh". hinihila yung bangkay nung driver sa van.

nakakapanlumo ang sight.

[the_wildthing]

Stupid truck driver! Nasa service lane na nga yung van at may EWD pa daw.

[greenlyt]

Yan ba yun nakabalandra na Trailer Truck kahapon? Wala na yun Grace Van ng dumaan ako kahapon...

[pissword]

kaya masmaganda yata magpalit ka ng tire sa middle eh masyadong delikado sa shoulder

[GlennSter]

eh san ka na pala ngayon magpapalit ng gulong pag na flattan!?!?!

tssssssss...

MAGING LISTO PAG NASIRAAN!?!

PANO MO MAGAGAWA YUN!?

pag nakita mong may truck na parating..."AY MAY MTRUCK!!LISTO AKO KAYA BUBUHATIN KO ANG SASAKYAN KO PARA DI AKO MAGANGGA AT MAPUTULAN NG ULO!"

[HBOY]

ogag nga yung remark nung Cortez na yun.. imbes na sabihin nya yun.. ang dapat nyang sbaihin.. HUWAG GAMITIN ANG SHOULDER FOR OVERTAKING!.. bopols!!

[alex manalo]

what's sad about this story perosnally for me, hindi jn natapos yung istorya

nagtraffic sa baba kaya yung iba e nag sky way na lang, including one of my officemate. naaksidente rin cla, nawalan ng control yung kotse nila, bumangga doon sa isa sa mga cementong harang, then nagroll yung car. yung driver is yung kuya ng officemate ko, walang gaanong nangyari sa kanya. yung officemate ko sa passenger side, lumabas na sa operating room ng makati med yesterday... medyo malaki yung injury sa right hand.

ang buhay nga naman...

[hagiber]

Sorry to hear about that... what can be done to minimize these kinds of accidents ?

Kung lagyan kaya nang minihumps every 100 meters sa shoulder nang SLEX ? Makakatulong kaya yan ?

[Kicker15]

dapat taasan na nila yung fine sa overtaking sa shoulder