Overloaded trucks blamed for Pangasinan bridge collapse

MANILA, Philippines — The two trucks that crossed the Carlos P. Romulo bridge in Bayambang, Pangasinan when it collapsed on Thursday were overloaded, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

DPWH-Ilocos region director Ronnel Tan noted that the bridge can accommodate only 20 tons.

“It has no visible major defect. Since it is old, our limit there is 20 tons only. Our estimate is that the trucks may have been carrying 48 tons,” Tan said in an interview over dzRH.

He said the bridge was constructed in 1945 and its rehabilitation was last conducted in 2012.

Pangasinan public information officer Rafael Saygo said police are looking into the negligence of the drivers, considering that the bridge has signage on its load limit.

The drivers and passengers of an Elf truck loaded with fertilizer and a dump truck loaded with sand were injured in the accident.

The DPWH closed the bridge and advised motorists to take the Bayambang-Bautista-Alcala-Sto.Tomas-Carmen-Tarlac and San Carlos Aguilar road via Bocboc bridge.