Motorist dies of heart attack, crashes along Quezon Avenue

A male motorist died after apparently having a heart attack while driving and getting into a car crash along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday afternoon.

The victim, who police said was in his early 50s and whose identity was still unknown, reportedly lost control of his white Fortuner while driving along the busy and congested stretch of Quezon Avenue at noon.

Police said witnesses saw the victim's vehicle, which was heading for España Boulevard, swerving in and out of lanes as cars moved slowly in heavy traffic.

Investigation revealed that the victim was trying to bring his car into the rightmost lane but it rear-ended another SUV also heading in the same direction.

The driver of the other SUV involved in the accident said he was dumbfounded when they got hit during heavy traffic.

"Nagulat kami kasi nga mabagal takbo namin. Tapos binangga ang likod ng SUV ko. Pero wala namang lumalabas sa sasakyan para makipag-usap dahil may aksidente nga," said the driver of the SUV.

Little did he know that the driver inside the SUV already suffered a heart attack. "Must be the scorching heat that triggered his heart failure," the driver added.

Bystanders helped by knocking on the vehicle's window, while others tried looking for ways to open the windows and doors. Motorists also started blowing their horns to help keep the victim awake.

An ambulance got stuck in heavy traffic but eventually arrived.

The trapped victim was pulled out from the vehicle when a gas station's crew member armed with a hammer arrived to smash the window.

"Walang gustong bumasag sa salamin baka may maghabol. Pinakamainam na basagin talaga eh para mailigtas ang biktima. Fifteen minutes na siya sa loob at naka-off pa ang aircon. Imagine 'yung init sa loob tapos na heart-attack pa," a bystander said.

Authorities then decided to use the police mobile to transport the victim to the nearest hospital.

The victim, however, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

Relatives of the victim declined to be interviewed and asked that the victim's identity be withheld.

According to a source of GMA News at the hospital, the victim died of myocardial infarction or heart attack.  

When asked if such emergency like this occurs, Dr. Janina Bianca Ortiz from Capitol Medical Center's Emergency Medicine said this happens, and advised motorists to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if possible.

"Kung makakakita kayo ng tao na nawalan ng malay, huwag matakot na tumulong. Kung may alam sa CPR ibigay sa biktima. Pero una, make sure na ang area ay safe para ligtas ka din pati ang gusto mong tulungan. Kapag maaga ka makapagbigay ng CPR, malaki ang chances na makapagligtas ka ng buhay," she said. —DVM/KG, GMA News