LINGAYEN—The old San Jose Bridge along Barangay Baay in this capital town collapsed that injured four construction workers working for the demolition of the structure Tuesday around 3:00 p.m.

Report from Superintendent Jackson Seguin, town police chief, identified the injured victims as Vevencio Conise, 57, Kenneth Castro, 21, Roberto Llanillo, 38, all residents of Pobalcion, Bugallon town and Bartolome Aqui, 48, from Anolid, Mangaldan, all in this province.

Two residents try to figure out how the bridge could have collapsed. (Photo by Ray Zambrano)

DPWH’s San Jose Bridge Project Engr. Solomon Valdez clarified that the injured workers are employees of Brylle Construction Supply owned by Jonas Santillan.

Valdez said the P1.8 million contract for the demolition of San Jose Bridge was awarded to Brylle. The work was already on its third week of demolition activity when the bridge collapsed.

Initial police investigation showed the victims were cutting the old steel trusses of the bridge with safety harness attached to their body. While cutting the center steel truss, the bridge collapsed leaving the workers hanging on the remaining trusses while a small crane truck being used by the said workers fell to the river and sank.

Police and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office elements rushed the victims to Lingayen District Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Llanilo and Aqui were later transferred to Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.

Valdez maintained he had instructed Brylle to support the middle of the bridge before removing the trusses but it was not done properly.

District Engr. Rodolfo Dion of the Second Pangasinan Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways under whose area the project is being undertaken did not answer phone calls and text message for comments. (Tita Roces/Nora Dominguez/Leonardo Micua)

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