4 killed in Alabang mishap

Four people were killed while four others were injured when a 10-wheeler truck slammed into their stalled vehicle Sunday night along the South Luzon Tollway (SLT) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Those killed were identified as Violy Torreloza, Christopher Fajardo, Ermita Quinonez, 25, and Anthony Tagumpay, 30. Injured were Rodrigo Quiñonez, 52, Glenefer Quiñonez, 24, Ma. Victoria Lawig, and Erich Lawig.

Truck driver Artemio Acosta, of Pasig City, immediately surrendered to authorities after the incident.

Manny Prades, radio operator of the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC), said the accident took place at around 11:35 p.m. near the Alabang exit of the SLT.

Investigation showed that the victims were on their way to Cabuyao, Laguna when their vehicle, a Tamaraw FX (TRW 957), encountered engine trouble near SLT’s Alabang exit.

Some of the passengers were pushing the vehicle to the tollgate for repair when the truck (PNC 206), carrying some 2,000 pieces of hollow blocks to Carmona, Cavite, rammed into them.

The Tamaraw FX was thrown some 50 meters from the point of impact.

Torreloza and Fajardo were killed on the spot while Quinonez and Tagumpay died while undergoing treatment at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa, Prades said.

The injured passengers were rushed to the same hospital for treatment.

The report quoted Acosta as saying that he immediately stepped on the brakes upon seeing Tamaraw but the heavy cargo made it difficult for the truck to avoid the stalled vehicle.

The Bicutan Philippine National Police-Traffic Management Group (PNP-TMG) is now investigating the incident, Prades said.