CATANAUAN, Quezon – A 33-year-old heavy equipment operator was killed in a freak accident in Barangay Tagabas Ibaba here on Monday morning, April 8.

A HEAVY equipment operator was killed in a freak accident on April 8 in Catanauan, Quezon. (Photo via Danny Estacio)
Police identified the victim as Arjay Pondiveda, an employee of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Quezon 3rd Engineering District Office (DEO) and a resident of Barangay 10 here.
Investigation said Arvin Dural, a backhoe operator, lifted the dump box of a dump truck using the backhoe to be repaired by the victim.
The hydraulic hose of the backhoe suddenly malfunctioned and exploded which caused the equipment’s arm to fall at the back of the dump truck.
The victim’s head was crushed and died on the spot.
One person, Maximo de la Cruz, 62, a welder and a resident of Barangay Dahican here, was injured.
Dural faces a case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injury following the incident.