Robert C. Dejon | June 14, 2022
A wing van carrying loaded liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) caught fire after it lost its brakes and the driver smashed it into a concrete road barrier around 9:45PM June 11 at Brgy. San Vicente, Bontoc, Southern Leyte.
Bontoc Chief-of-Police (COP) Police Lt. Juanisa C. Mendoza identified the two drivers as Raymund Entia, 38, single, and a resident of Kiblawan, Davao Del Sur; and Hermes Barason, 22, single, and a resident of Kidapawan, Cotabato City. Both drivers suffered minor injuries during the incident.
Case investigator Police Cpl. Roberto M. Padon, in a phone interview, disclosed that a concerned citizen called their station around 9:50 that evening to report the incident. They immediately responded to the area and noticed a huge fire coming from the vehicle that fell at the gutter of the road. The local Bureau of Fire Protection was already in the area upon their arrival and started controlling the fire.
Initial investigation revealed that the wing van, operated by Island LPG bearing plate number JAA-5903, came from Pasay City and bound for Davao City to deliver the 700 loaded LPG tanks. According to the testimony of the driver, as the vehicle was traversing a descent part of the highway, it lost its brakes. To avoid falling into a ravine estimated to be 50 meters deep, Entia decided to slam the vehicle to the concrete road barrier causing this to turn sideways on its left side.
Cpl. Padon continued that when the vehicle fell to the ground, its windshield broke allowing the drivers to escape their demise. The drivers were running for safety around 50 meters away from their vehicle when explosions began and fire started to break out.
Entia, who manned the vehicle, suffered more body injuries that Barason and both were rushed to the Sogod District Hospital for medical attention.
As of press time, Cpl. Padon said that the burnt vehicle and the load are still in the area causing slight traffic.
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