3 hurt after PNR train crashes into crawler crane in Sampaloc, Manila

Three people were hurt after a train of the Philippine National Railways crashed into a crawler crane in Sampaloc, Manila on Sunday.

The operator and conductor of the train as well as one passenger were injured, according to a report by Oscar Oida on GMA News' Unang Balita on Wednesday.

The front part of the train was heavily damaged due to the impact of the crash.

The incident occurred on the railroad track near Antipolo Street on Sunday morning.

Initial investigation showed that the train was oncoming when the crawler crane being used in the construction of the NLEX-SLEX Connector Project in the area suddenly moved.

"'Yun pong real driver o operator ng mobile crane na 'yon ay nag-almusal. Nagkape po. Ang ginawa ng kanyang assistant, pinakialaman. Siguro gustong matuto. Eh parating na po ang tren patungong Governor Pascual, Malabon. Humampas ngayon doon po," Leonardo Dutong, barangay captain of Barangay 570 Zone 56 in Sampaloc, Manila, said.

(The real driver or operator of the mobile crane left to have breakfast and coffee. His assistant tinkered with the crane. Maybe he wants to learn how to drive it. But the train going to Governor Pascual station in Malabon was already coming. It crashed into the crane.)

The said assistant fled, according to Dutong.

However he later surrendered to the Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit. 

The suspect was identified as Jerson Banzon.

"Sabi naman niya, siya naman talaga 'yung nagmaneho noong nangyaring insidente," investigating officer Police Corporal Eric Despabiladero said.

(He admitted that he was the one who drove the crane.)

The PNR meanwhile is mulling what action it will take.

"Mayroon kasing damage to property, 'no, and more than that, nasaktan 'yung aming personnel. So mabuti na nga lang wala tayo naging problema sa pasahero," PNR Operations Manager Joseline A. Geronimo said.

(There was damage to property, and more than that, our personnel were injured. Good thing we did not have a problem with the passenger.)

GMA News is getting the side of the contractor of the NLEX-SLEX Connector Project regarding the matter. —KG, GMA News