7 die, 4 injured as 10-wheeler plows into Batangas roadside eatery
Seven persons were killed while four others were injured when a sugarcanefilled truck rammed the rear of a parked 10-wheeler truck at the Diversion Road (going towards Nasugbu), Barangay Carsuche in Taal Batangas at about 5:50 a.m. yesterday. The strong impact caused the 10-wheeler which was also loaded with sugarcane to run down a slightly descending road and plow into roadside eatery where the victims were having breakfast.
Aside from the eatery, the 10-wheeler also hit five other vehicles – two cars, a van and two motorcyles - parked along the road.
Police Senior Inspector Ricaredo Dalisay identified the fatalities as Melecio Atienza, 39, owner of MJ Eatery; his wife, Jennifer Atienza, 37; their helpers Chelvier Añinon, 32, Babylyn Gamo; and Susan Hombre, 57 of Barangay Buli, Taal.
Customers Ricardo Tabugon, 44, a funeral helper of Sto. Cristo, San Jose town and Ramir Aguadi, 34, pipe fitter of Barangay Sta. Rita, Batangas City also died on the spot.
The injured were identified as Danica Uy, 16; Danilo
Madiclum, 59 of Barangay San Roque, Bauan; Bayani Muñoz, 49 of Barangay Aplaya, Bauan and Orly Capuso, 35 of Ambulong, Batangas City.
Uy, a part-time helper at the eatery said she was making a sisig meal for a customer when she heard somebody shout, “tabi kayo” (step aside) and saw the truck coming towards them fast.
“Nawalan na po ako ng malay. Tapos nung magising ako nasa ilalim na ako ng truck, sa tabi ng gulong. Pinilit ko pong hinila yung buhok ko kasi naipit ng gulong Gumapang po ako kasi parang sasabog po yung tangke ng gasul (I lost consciousness. When I woke up I was already under the truck, near the tyre. I pulled my hair which was pinned by the rubber. I hurriedly crawled to get out because I feared the LPG tank might explode),” Uy told Manila Bulletin at her hospital bed.
“Nakita ko po yung mga kasama ko, lahat po sila wala nang buhay, yung isa putol ang ulo, may nakita po ako putol na kamay pero hindi ko po alam kanino yun (When I looked around I saw my co-workers were all dead. One was beheaded. I saw a mangled hand but I do not know who owns it,” shared a teary-eyed Uy who was confined at Taal Polymedic Hospital along with Capuso.
“I survived because my family still needs me,” she added.
She said Melecio’s head was crushed by a wheel.
Because it was Holy Week, Uy said the Atienza couple planned to close the eatery at noon yesterday to attend mass at St. Rafael Arcangel in Calaca town.
Dalisay said the driver of the truck already surrendered to Tuy Municipal Police Station while the 10-wheeler truck driver is still at large. Both trucks are owned by Evangelista Trucking in Calamba City, Laguna.