2 killed, 1 hurt in Quezon City road incident

A couple on a motorcycle were killed and another motorist hurt in a freak road accident on Congressional Avenue Extension in Quezon City on Sunday.

MMDA radio operator JC Sto. Domingo told dzBB radio that a dump truck heading for Tandang Sora accidentally hooked a telecommunications cable, causing an electric post to fall on a Toyota Vios sedan.

Out of control, the truck also hit a motorcycle, killing its two riders.

"Ang nagyari kasi pa-Tandang Sora ang dump truck na ito. Hindi niya namalayan yung kable ng Meralco ay sumabit sa may likuran niya at nahatak niya," Sto. Domingo said.

"Ngayon yung motorcycle ng mag-asawa eh nadaganan ng dump truck at patay po 'yun... Yung driver ng Vios naaksidente, injured naman po 'yun kasi nabagsakan ng poste ng Meralco," he added.

A 24 Oras report by Dano Tingcungco identified the motorcycle riders as Christian Calleja and Jenlee Reyes. They were brought to Quezon City General Hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the driver of the car was identified as Eduardo Valenzuela. He was injured and also taken to a hospital.

"Biglang may pumutok, bumagsak 'yung wire sa auto ko. Pag bagsak, sumabog ulit... 'yung kuryente, ang lakas eh. Tapos biglang bumagsak na lang 'yung poste. Derecho-derecho pa 'yung hatak ng truck eh," Valenzuela, an Uber driver, said.

Valenzuela added that his passenger was not injured. "Wala naman siya sugat, nakatakbo kasi siya agad eh."

Meanwhile, the truck's driver Ralybrent Reyes is currently under the custody of the police.

He declined to give a statement, only saying, "Hintayin ko muna amo ko bago ko magsalita."

Police said Reyes could face charges.

"Makakasuhan siya ng... kung mamatay man, multiple homicide with damage to property," said Police Officer 3 Andy Sotto.

Meralco assistant vice president Joe Zaldarriaga later reported that the incident caused a power outage in Barangay Culiat.

Zaldarriaga told GMA News that "the dump truck's dump bed suddenly elevated and got tangled in a telco cable that dragged our poles down, resulting in power outage."

Meanwhile, MMDA's Sto. Domingo said that the east-and westbound lanes of Congressional Avenue Extension were closed to motorists due to the accident.

He also advised motorists to take alternate routes. —Marlly Rome Bondoc and Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG/BM, GMA News