10.08.2007

Two killed in crane accident

Two people were killed when a mobile crane plunged down a 40ft ravine in Bato in the southeastern portion of Catanduanes in the Philippines.

The crane - a 45 ton Kobelco belonging to Toyo-Tobishim a Joint Venture Japanese company - left the narrow road after trying to avoid a pile of cut tree branches, a bicycle and two men in the road.

The crane was travelling to a bridge construction site in Batolinao, Baras, passing through a narrow, unpaved portion of the national highway when the accident occurred.

According to Toyo mechanic Ildefonso Prisco, operator, Rodulfo Diango, 34, a native of Dasmarinas, Cavite tried to avoid the obstruction but veered too close to the edge of the road and the crane slipped off the road.

Toyo workers Raul Berame and Macmac Panganiban managed to jump off the falling crane, however newly-hired welder Joel Marcos, 34, of Villasis, Pangasinan jumped but fell right into the path of the tumbling crane.

Part of the crane crushed his waist cutting off one limb, before overturning two more times on its way to the bottom of the ravine. He was declared dead on arrival at a local medical centre.
The operator was found dead still inside the cab.