Jeepney hits gas pump, causes traffic jam

CEBU – People scampered for safety and traffic ground to a halt following fears of an explosion after a passenger jeepney rammed a gas pump in barangay Basak Pardo yesterday afternoon.

Residents near the gas station, as well as the passengers of vehicles wanting to gas up, fled upon seeing a 21B Elf-type Ibabao Mandaue-Cebu City bound jeepney mow down a pump station, tearing it from its base.

Right after the accident, jeepney driver Dindo Capala abandoned his vehicle leaving his wife Rosalinda Capala behind the wheel. Pump attendants said the jeepney arrived to gas up at the time.

Basak Pardo barangay captain Dave Tumulak and his staff immediately cordoned off the area and left only one lane open for the traffic towards the south. He asked traffic personnel to assist as well as take a sketch of the accident.

Tumulak also told everyone to turn off their cellular phones as these may trigger an explosion.

"We have to make sure because there is also a Caltex Station nearby," Tumulak said.

Pump attendant Richard Cañares admitted seeing Rosalinda drive the jeep while he was filling up the tank of the vehicle.

Rosalinda, in an interview, said she and her husband were about to exchange places when the accident happened.

As they were about to leave, she allegedly lost control of the jeepney and stepped on the accelerator instead of the breaks causing the vehicle to hit advance instead and hit the pump.

Dino Rallon, Filipinas Shell dealer and owner of Bennros Shell station said they immediately shut down operations after the accident.

A technician from Filipinas Shell was also called to fix the wirings and tubes.

Rallon said he cannot determine the exact damage because the Filipinas Shell engineering team still has to inspect it. He said the expected amount of damage is quite large.

The PUJ driver remains at large until now. – Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB (THE FREEMAN)