Truck rams post amid ashfall; 1 dead, 3 hurt

LAGUNA, Philippines — A truck driver died while his three companions were injured when their vehicle rammed a concrete post amid heavy ashfall in Calamba City, Laguna yesterday.

Police said Gilbert Briones, who was pinned under the truck, died at the scene.

Jovin and Reymar, both surnamed Daen, and Charity Flores, 33, were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.

The Calamba police received a call at past 3 a.m. about an accident involving an Isuzu truck traveling from Cabuyao to Manila, which occurred along the highway in Barangay Paciano Rizal, according to Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran, Calabarzon police spokesperson.

“The vehicle approached a sharp curve then went out of control, causing it to turn upside down and hit a concrete post,” a police report read.   

Investigators said the windshield of the truck was covered with volcanic ash.

Ashfalls were reported in areas near Taal Volcano after it exploded on Sunday.

Roads closed

Meanwhile, some roads in Batangas and Cavite that were blanketed in ash were closed to traffic.

The Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) in Calabarzon said portions of the Tanauan-Talisay-Tagaytay road in Talisay and Tagaytay-Taal Lake and Tagaytay-Talisay roads in  Cavite were closed to traffic.

A section of the roads is not passable to all types of vehicles while two sections are not open to all types of vehicles, the DPWH said.

Maintenance crew and equipment operators were deployed in the areas.

DPWH shuttle buses were deployed in Laurel and Talisay towns to help in the evacuation of affected residents.