4 die, 13 hurt in Rosales pile-up
ROSALES– A pile-up of nine vehicles along the MacArthur Highway in Barangay Carmen here in the afternoon of Feb. 23 resulted in the death of four persons and seriously injured 13 others.
The mishap occurred when a south-bound Isuzu cargo truck loaded with Baguio vegetables went out of control after ascending the Gov. Teofilo Sison Bridge at 1:40 p.m. and crashed into rows of three motorized tricycles, two motorcycles, one owner-type jeep, and one dump truck before colliding head-on with another dump truck loaded with sand and gravel.
The driver of the cargo truck with Plate No. RDJ 780, Alex Cuenco, 40, of Pines Park, La Trinidad, Benguet, was not hurt in the accident that caused traffic to stand still for hours along the MacArthur Highway, delaying travel for motorists and tourists bound for Baguio for the Panagbenga Festival.
The incident killed Mary Joy Gotlay, 23, and Ferdinand Ancheta, both of Carmay East, Rosales; Joseph Flores of Balungao; and Rowena Callorena, 19, of San Manuel town.
Seriously hurt were Patrick Laurenzo, 14; Patrick Jasper Laurea, 6; Sonia Fe Laurea, 1; Blessie Jasel Vinluan, 14; Virgilio Estabillo, 40; Romano Cabantac, 45; Rabel Sarcia, 27; Mary Grace Laurea, 23; Isagani Laurea, 42; Clarefe Sandaga, 24; Jayson Gallardo, Joselito Pigao, and Rafael Villanueva, helpers of the forward truck.
Chief Insp. Jackson Gatchalian Seguin, officer-in-charge of the Rosales police, said the initial crash happened in front of the McDonald’s restaurant at the foot of the Gov. Teofilo Sison Bridge where the tricycles were stationed.
P03 Alex Gonzaga, case investigator, said that after ramming the parked vehicles, the wayward truck skidded in front of the Shell Gasoline Station where it rammed concrete ornamental boxes.
Gonzaga said three of the fatalities died on the spot and one in the hospital while undergoing treatment.
Cuenca was charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries and damaged to properties before the Regional Trial Court in Rosales.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
