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MANILA, Philippines — A driver was killed Monday night after his car crashed and burned along a portion of the Skyway in Taguig City, the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP HPG) said.
In an interview with reporters in Camp Crame on Tuesday, PNP HPG spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang said the accident took place at 11:49 p.m. on Feb. 24 near the Skyway junction into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Expressway.
Witnesses said the vehicle was running fast when it crashed into the center island of the Skyway, according to Malang.
The car then crashed into the side of the expressway and caught fire afterwards, killing the driver inside.
“Kung makikita natin yung pictures from our investigator ng Highway Patrol Team natin ng SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) Satellite Office ay talagang sunog-sunog yung sasakyan. Even yung pagkakakilanlan ng biktima o driver ay hindi talaga makikilala,” Malang said.
(If we see the pictures of the investigator of our Highway Patrol Team at the SLEX Satellite Office, the vehicle was really burnt. Even the victim’s or driver’s identity can no longer be determined.)
There was no other passenger in the vehicle and no other vehicles were involved in the accident, Malang added.
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The HPG spokesperson said it was investigating whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or whether mechanical defects in the vehicle were to blame for the crash and fire.
The PNP’s highways unit was coordinating with the Land Transportation Office to trace the driver’s identity as well as with the expressway management so as to obtain closed circuit television camera footage of the accident.
Malang reminded drivers to refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol as well as to check on the maintenance of their vehicles.
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He added, “[H]indi naman nire-require ng ating batas, pero lagi tayong magdala ng fire extinguisher, kahit yung maliit lang, para at least mabigyan din ng kahit papaanong measure yung ganitong mga sunog o sitwasyon.”
(Our laws don’t require it, but let’s always bring a fire extinguisher, even a small one, so that we’d have at least a measure against fires or other situations.)