A 19-year-old factory worker was killed after an elevator’s steel doors crushed his head while he was carrying some finished plastic products from the ground floor to the second floor of a factory yesterday in Valenzuela City.
City police chief Superintendent Billy Beltran identified the victim as Larry Jarito, a worker of the Asian Plastic Center on Rosario street in Barangay Mapulang Lupa.
Police officer 3 Remedios Terte said the incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. at the cutting department of the two-story factory.
Jarito and fellow worker Ronald Penonal were in the service elevator when Jarito allegedly stuck his head out of the elevator.
Penonal told probers he immediately reached for the switch to turn off the elevator but was too late.
Penonal said he sought the help of maintenance personnel, who cut through the steel door to get Jarito out.
Police said they are not discounting the possibility of foul play. They have invited Penonal, who was with the victim when the alleged accident happened, for further questioning. – Jerry Botial, Pete Laude