Van vs dump truck in front of city hall, 2 drivers hurt
PALAYAN CITY – A utility van accidentally collided with a dump truck loaded with soil aggregates causing the truck to tilt on its side, leaving the drivers pinned inside the vehicles, police said on Tuesday.
The mishap occurred in front of the city hall building along the Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road in Bgy. Atate at 11:15 a.m.
Mayor Adrianne Mae “Rianne” Cuevas immediately rushed to the area to help oversee rescue efforts for the two wounded drivers.
Members of the city disaster risk reduction and management office and the Bureau of Fire Protection were immediately deployed in the area by Cuevas for the rescue operation.
Initial police investigation showed the accident occurred after one of the vehicles developed mechanical trouble.
City police head Lt. Col. Renato C. Morales said the blue JAC utility van (NBD-8417) was traversing east and heading towards Bongabon town while the Isuzu dump truck with (RHT-104) came from Bgy. Singalat when the collision occurred.
Morales said the dump truck which was driven by Nestor Feliciano, of Bgy. Curva, Bongabon, suddenly entered the highway and occupied the utility van’s lane after it lost its brakes.
As a result, the closed van accidentally hit the incoming dump truck, causing the latter to tip over on its side and its cargo of gravel aggregates to spill onto the road.
After the drivers were cut free from the wreckage, they were rushed to the infirmary here for appropriate medical attention, said Morales.
Morales added that the two helpers of the dump truck were unhurt during the accident. Their physical condition were alright upon checking by Cuevas, who is a registered nurse, he said.
