4 dead, 26 injured after truck plows into vehicles

MANILA, Philippines — Four people died and 26 others were injured after a truck plowed into several vehicles on the northbound lane of Katipunan Avenue flyover in Quezon City on Thursday.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said the fatalities, three men and a woman, died on the spot from severe injuries brought by the multiple vehicular mishap at 6:55 p.m. in Barangay Loyola Heights. Two of the dead have yet to be unidentified.

Initial investigation showed the 10-wheeler wing van truck was heading toward C.P. Garcia Avenue when it hit 16 motorcycles and five four-wheel vehicles during rush hour.

Truck driver Richard Mangupag initially fled from the scene but was arrested by police in a follow-up operation at around 1:30 a.m. yesterday.

Capt. Napoleon Cabigon, QCPD Traffic Sector 3 head, said Mangupag lost control of the truck after the brakes malfunctioned.

“Mabagal ‘yung takbo. Hindi lang talaga nakayanan nung preno nung trak kaya nagtuloy-tuloy siya (The truck was moving slowly. But the brakes failed so he couldn’t stop),” Cabigon said in an interview over GMA News.

The injured victims, whose ages ranged from 21 to 52 years, were brought to different hospitals by emergency responders for treatment.

Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property are being prepared against Mangupag.