VALENZUELA CITY, Philippines — A truck crashed into a toll booth at the Paso de Blas southbound exit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) late Wednesday night, prompting an investigation by local authorities and tollway management.
The incident occurred at 11:34 p.m. in one of the RFID lanes, but no injuries were reported, as the booth was unmanned and the truck driver was unharmed, according to NLEX Traffic and Safety Officer Robin Ignacio, as reported by Super Radyo dzBB on Thursday.
Driver’s Camp Cites Road Conditions
The driver’s assistant claimed the crash was caused by an uneven road surface, which allegedly led to the vehicle overturning and striking the toll booth. He denied that fatigue or sleepiness played a role in the mishap.
NLEX: No Prior Incidents in RFID Lane
NLEX management responded by stating that if there were road issues in the area, similar accidents would have occurred previously, suggesting this may have been an isolated incident.
They also pointed to the possibility of human error, saying the driver may have misjudged the distance between the toll booth and the truck’s rear trailer.
Toll Booth Cleared, Lane Remains Closed
While the damaged toll booth has been cleared, the affected RFID lane remains closed to motorists. The truck involved in the crash is still on site and awaiting recovery.
The case has been referred to the Valenzuela City Police for further investigation.