Truck driver slain in road rage case

Police are hot on the trail of three unidentified men, including a jeepney driver, who killed a truck driver over a minor traffic altercation at dawn yesterday in Valenzuela City.

The victim, who suffered a cracked skull, was identified as Rolando Cruz, 49, of General Luis street, Caloocan City. Barangay tanods found Cruz’ body slumped on the ground at daylight, police said.

Inspector Buddy dela Cruz, officer-on-case, said the local police has formed a team to identify and arrest the three suspects, one of whom, a witness told probers, was the driver of an abandoned passenger jeepney (DKE 460) found near the scene of the crime.

Investigation showed the incident happened at around 4:30 a.m. along Paso de Blas in front of Family Royal Mall near the Malinta Exit of the North Luzon Expressway.

Probers said the victim was driving his truck (WEP 130) and overtook the jeepney with the three suspects on board.

This was taken as an affront which apparently pricked the egos of the suspects who chased the "offending" driver and accosted him.

As they argued heatedly, two of the suspects ganged up on the victim with lead pipes.

Witnesses said the suspects, all in their mid-40s, fled on foot, abandoning the passenger jeepney in a grassy lot a few meters from the crime scene. – Jerry Botial