Tricycle driver dies after fallen tree pins him down inside his vehicle in Ilocos Sur
STA. MARIA, Ilocos Sur — A tricycle driver died after an acacia tree fell on him while he was sleeping inside his vehicle at the Innanus TODA Parking Area on Dakota Street in Barangay Poblacion Sur here on Monday, Aug. 24.
Police Lt. Jenson Refuerzo, officer-in-charge of the Sta. Maria Municipal Police Station, identified the victim as alias “Rod”, 45, a resident of the area.
Refuerzo said the incident occurred at about 3 p.m. when police received a report of a fallen tree at the parking area, where two tricycles were hit.
Responding officers immediately arrived at the scene and found the victim trapped under the tree and his vehicle.
Several tricycle drivers told police that they noticed the tree beginning to fall and immediately warned people in the area to evacuate.
However, the victim apparently failed to hear the warning because he was asleep inside his tricycle.
Refuerzo said the entire acacia tree fell directly onto the tricycle, killing the driver instantly.
Authorities believe that continuous rainfall may have softened the soil, causing the acacia tree to topple.