Still another traffic jam reared its ugly head at around 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning when a truck descending the northbound lane of the C5 flyover at the junction with Ortigas Avenue lost its brakes and caused an 18-vehicle smash up, aggravating the already congested flow at that hour.
The driver of the 10-wheeler truck, identified as Juan Mirabueno, told authorities that he was coming down slow, but suddenly felt the vehicle’s brakes soften up, eventually losing control, carried by the momentum as his truck was descending downslope.
“Dumire-diretso ako pababa (I just continued as I came down),” Mirabueno recounted. “I am sorry. I am very sorry.”
His companion, Jaymar Rivaren, added: “The brake is checked every day. It just suddenly wasn’t working anymore. We’re bound for Bulacan.”
The driver of a tax cab, Roberto Acosta, thought he was a sure goner: “Iniisip ko katapusan ko na habang napipitpit eh (I was thinking, while the metal was crimping in, this is the last of me. ) …”
The motorcycle rider, identified as Jeffrey LLanza, was not so lucky. He got pinned under a van, and was pronounced already dead when taken to hospital.
At least two other motorists were being treated for injuries suffered in the accident.
“Humihingi po ako ng sorry; pasensya na po. Sorry po (I apologize. I am sorry),” Mirabueno could only keep repeating.
Click and watch this video report below: