Construction worker killed in freak Virac airport accident

A construction worker at the Virac Airport in Catanduanes was killed when he was ran over by a pay loader driven by a co-worker on Thursday night.

Super Radyo dzBB's "Dobol  B sa News TV" Virac stringer Jinky Tabor reported that the incident happened at a part of the airport runway that was being repaired at about 10 p.m.

Airport authorities identified the victim as Ramon Tapia, a dump truck driver, who worked at the construction site.

Pay loader driver Ernie Pardo, a friend and co-worker of the victim, was quoted in the report as saying that he was maneuvering his equipment when he suddenly felt a slight bump.  When he got off to check, he saw his friend lying flat on the pavement.

Pardo rushed Tapia to a hospital but he was declared dead upon arrival.

Also, Pardo told airport investigators that while maneuvering the pay loader, he focused his attention on the night light and did not notice Tapia was around. 

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in Catanduanes has ordered construction work stoppage  at the airport to give way for an investigation. —LBG, GMA News