FOUR DIED HERE:

Residents gather at the scene of an accident involving a trailer truck carrying steel beams along the Batasan-San Mateo Road in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City yesterday. The truck hit several vehicles after the driver lost control.

At least four people were killed while around 10 others were hospitalized in a nine-vehicle smashup involving a trailer truck carrying steel posts in Quezon City yesterday afternoon.

Initial investigation disclosed that the trailer truck plowed through eight vehicles along the Batasan-San Mateo Road near its intersection with Sunny Side Ville street in Barangay Batasan Hills at around 3:45 p.m.

A male motorcycle rider, who has yet to be identified, was killed on the spot after he was pinned in the crash.

Another female victim was declared dead on arrival at the General Malvar Hospital after she was rescued while two people died at the St. Matthews Hospital in San Mateo, Rizal.

Eleven people were initially brought to different nearby hospitals.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, said that aside from the trailer truck, two motorcycles, a Toyota Avanza, a Toyota Vios, a jeepney, two tricycles and a towing truck were involved in the smashup.

The truck driver, Nilo Calimutan, is currently detained at the Batasan police station.

The truck reportedly lost its brakes and plowed through the other vehicles before toppling on its side, according to Superintendent Rossel Cejas, station commander.

Probers said the truck’s gears failed due to the weight of its load and the driver lost control of the vehicle.

The accident also resulted in heavy traffic along the busy thoroughfare.