A 12-wheeler truck carrying a container van dragged an aerial wire of a phone company yesterday, toppling a concrete post, which in turn fell on a vehicle carrying eight passengers.
The truck owned by Van Transportation dragged the wire and brought down the post of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Co. in J.L. Briones St. Cebu City. The post hit the roof of the black Isuzu Sportivo (YHZ 863) owned by Roque Balberon.
Balberon’s houshelper, Angie Wenceslao, was taken to the Cebu Doctor’s Hospital by the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation after she complained that her head was aching.
The telephone post fell on the roof of the back seat of the vehicle, right where Wenceslao was seated.
Restaurant
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, Balberon said that he, his wife, children and niece are on their way to take lunch at a restaurant located across where the accident happened. Baleberon stopped his vehicle to allow the truck to pass by before making a turn towards the restaurant.
“Wa mi kabantay nga nasangit diay (ang truck) sa wire. Wa man sab mi kabantay nga naay poste sa among kilid (We didn’t know the truck was dragging down the post),” said Balberon.
Driver
The driver of the truck, Eufronio Bacanaya Jr., said did not expect the accident.
“Katulo na gud ko gabalik balik diri unya okay ra akong dagan. Kinsay magtuo nga makadisgrasya ko (I had been here thrice. I didn’t expect the accident to happen),” he said.
Bacanaya said the container van he is transporting is bigger and higher compared to the one he transported earlier.
However, Rolando Rivero, liaison officer of Van Transportation, blamed the accident to the wires hanging low.
Standard height
Rivero said that the standard height of aerial cables is 30 feet but the elevation of the wires that were dragged by the truck was only 14.5 feet.
Sought for comment, Bong Lintag of PLDT said they installed their facilities based on standard engineering practices.
Asked what assistance the Van Transportation will extend, Rivero said they will coordinate with the PLDT as to who will shoulder the expenses on the repair of the damaged car as well as the hospitalization of Wenceslao.
Lintag said they will replace the post and its damaged accessories.
Lintag said they have yet to see what assistance to give to Balberon, adding that they shall go after the van’s driver or owner.
As for Balberon, he only wants his car to be replaced. He said he only owned the vehicle just three months ago.