Truck loses brakes, causes 13-vehicle pile-up on C-5

Thirteen vehicles figured in a pile-up after a truck lost its brakes before a stop light on C-5 Road in Taguig on Tuesday night.

According to EJ Gomez's report on "24 Oras," initial investigation showed that the southbound vehicles were stopped before the McKinley intersection when the truck suddenly moved and plowed into the vehicles in front.

The 12 other vehicles included several vans, SUVs, and cars.

“Nung medyo mag-go-go na siya, di kinambyo ko na yung truck. Bigla siyang nag-wild, nagdire-diretso yung truck. Tapos nung pinipreno ko na, ayaw na niyang mapreno,” the truck driver said.

(When the light was about to turn green, I put the truck in gear. Suddenly the truck went wild and moved straight ahead. When I hit the brakes, it didn't stop.)

Metro Manila Development Authority personnel said the driver did not try to flee. He didn't fall asleep nor was he drunk.

The driver said he and his helper were supposed to deliver corn to Batangas City from Nueva Ecija.

“Hinahanapan ko nga po ng way kung saan sana siya mailihihis. E ma-traffic nga po, wala siyang malihisan. Talagang madadaanan po yung ibang sasakyan,” he added. 

(I was looking for a way to avoid the vehicles. However, I had nowhere else to go because of the traffic. The truck would hit the other vehicles.) 

One of the drivers of the affected vehicles was taken to the hospital.

“Siyempre na-shock ako. Masyadong maliit yung leg room. So yung tuhod ko tsaka yung dibdib ko yung tumama sa may manibela,” said an affected motorist. 

(Of course, I was shocked. The legroom is too small. So it was my knee and my chest that hit the steering wheel.)

Those involved in the collision went straight to the Taguig Traffic Investigation Unit.