BY JEL SANTOS
Texting while driving is dangerous.
That’s what delivery van driver Melvin Protacio learned Tuesday night when he was almost pinned to death inside his vehicle after he hit a truck of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) installing concrete barriers along the southbound lane of EDSA.
MMDA EDSA traffic chief Bong Nebrija said the driver’s helper (pahinante) said that Protacio was trying to overtake another vehicle while at the same time texting around 11:40 p.m.
“The driver of the delivery van was not intoxicated, but he was distracted while driving. His porter confessed that the van driver was busy texting,” he said.
Nebrija said it was impossible for Protacio not to see the MMDA truck since it has warning devices.
“The road was also very slippery that night because of a sudden downpour,” he added.
Meanwhile, the helper of the delivery van sustained minor injuries during the incident, Nebrija said.
The MMDA EDSA traffic chief said Protacio got stuck of the delivery van as he almost got pinned to death
“Distracted driving is really dangerous. Do not text while driving, it is against the law,” he said.
It took few minutes for medical personnel to extract Protacio from the wrecked delivery van.
The driver and his helper were immediately rushed to the St. Luke’s Medical Center.
