Forklifts are used to remove the wayward dump truck, which almost drove off the Maguikay flyover in Mandaue City. (CDN PHOTO/ NORMAN MENDOZA)
A SPEEDING dump truck rammed a motorcycle, severely injuring its rider, before crashing into the Maguikay flyover railing in Mandaue city early yesterday morning.
The accident caused bumper-to-bumper traffic between Mandaue City and Consolacion town from 5:40 a.m. to around 9 a.m., as only one lane of the flyover was open.
Traffic investigator PO3 Rolando Gelido said truck driver Renato Racaza, who fled after the accident, was at fault for being in the wrong lane.
He will face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with physical injury.
Gelido said authorities have not established whether the truck driver , was under the influence of liquor because he fled the scene.
The dump truck was headed south while the motorcycle was headed north.
The truck counter-flowed into the northbound lane of the flyover, where the motorcycle was traveling, said SPO1 Richard Sucayno, assistant chief investigator of the Traffic Management Unit.
The impact threw Alexander Curaraton, 48, off his motorbike. He was brought to the hospital for injuries in the head and body.
The truck owner, a police officer identified as John Raymond Velasquez from the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), went to the traffic office at about 9 a.m. and promised to shoulder the victim’s hospital expenses.
Curaraton was transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, where he is under observation.
Velasquez also promised to convince the truck driver to surrender and pay for the damage to the flyover.
The extenf of damage is still being assessed, said Engr. Eda de Guzman of the Department of Public Works and Highways 6th District Engineering Office.
Dino Bargamento of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) said the truck rammed the concrete rail of the flyover about four feet high at 5:40 a.m. yesterday. About one meter of the railing was destroyed.
An hour later, a taxi collided with another taxi on the flyover because of the bumper-to-bumper traffic. The cab drivers reached a settlement and went on their way.
CLEARED
The wayward dump truck almost fell from the flyover, its front left wheel and driver’s compartment hanging over the elevated ramp.
Two forklifts removed the disabled truck from teh scene by 9 a.m.
Bargamento said they had to use a forklift and chains owned by Profood International Corp., whose mango processing factory is located nearby, to drag the truck away and clear the road.
Traffic was also heavy in Mandaue City yesterday afternoon because of a van trailer that lost one of its tires at the corner of A.C Cortes Ave. and S.B Cabahug St.
The trailer was carrying two 20-footer containers of corn and was about to turn left to S.B Cabahug St. to head towards northern Cebu when one of its tires got detached.
A Temporary Operator’s Permit was issued to the truck driver for violating the truck ban from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. As of 6 p.m., the trailer with license plate number GXH127 has not been removed from the area.