Worker killed in freak factory accident

MANILA, Philippines - A worker in a mop-making factory was crushed to death in a carding machine he was operating in Valenzuela City Tuesday afternoon, police said yesterday.

Juanito Lajera, 49, was feeding cotton into the carding machine, which cleans the fibers before they are turned into thread, when the hem of his shirt got caught in the machine at the Arctic Mop Yarn factory. Witnesses said he tried to resist the machine’s pull but failed.

Northern Police District crime lab chief Superintendent Filemon Porciuncula said the machine cut off Lajera’s left hand, crushed his right hand, and snapped his spine.

Police said they are investigating the incident to determine who should be liable for Lajera’s death.