Man Almost Hanged To Death With Electric Wire

By Taga Ibaan Ako

Almost three weeks ago, a resident of Brgy. Munting Tubig, Ibaan, Batangas almost got himself killed when his neck got entangled with electric wire hanging down from its post after a truck loaded with sugar cane cut it out from its source.

According to Dandoy Mendoza, he was on his way to Sito Sta. Margarita late night on his motorbike when the incident happened. The road was half-illuminated with lights and a hanging black wire is hardly noticeable. He was running at around 30-40kmphr when the wire caught his neck, almost choking him to death. The wire caused wounds around his neck and is still trying to recover from it.

Acres of land in the area has been used and cultivated as sugarcane farm. Majority of which are on an "ariendo" or lease basis by sugar planters. It is a common knowledge to the residents of the barangay that trucks loaded with sugarcane passing the barangay road have been cutting their electric wire lines, particularly those hanging low across the road, causing brownouts to some households

Worst, some of them would just leave the barangay without fixing the loose electric wires, or at least give notice to barangay officials what they have done. Wires were left hanging at the risk of the residents and other motorists in the area.

Mr. Mendoza's near death experience should serve as a reminder to all barangays with sugarcane farm. It might be beneficial to all sugar planters, truck owners, drivers and, more importantly to residents to have a discussion so as to avoid the same incident. Then may be, they can establish limit on the sugar cane loaded on trucks since, aside from cutting electric lines, they have been causing cracks and eventually breaking barangay roads which are not designed for their combined weight.

Ibaan Electric's attention should also be called upon to fix low hanging electric wires since it's part of their duties and responsibilities to have them installed in safe places.

Up to this time, no sugarcane planters or truck owners has come forward to take responsibility of the accident. Mr. Mendoza has been personally shouldering his medical expenses. Wound marks can still be seen around his neck.