Truck driver blames brakes for Riyadh tragedy
The Filipino fuel truck driver that has been accused of causing a blast in Riyadh earlier this month that killed 22 people, including workers for Zahid Tractor, claims brake failure meant that he was unable to stop the truck in time. According to a report in Arab News, Ruben Kebeng said that he struggled to […]
Ruben Kebeng says that he tried to stop the truck but the brakes failed
The Filipino fuel truck driver that has been accused of causing a blast in Riyadh earlier this month that killed 22 people, including workers for Zahid Tractor, claims brake failure meant that he was unable to stop the truck in time.
According to a report in Arab News, Ruben Kebeng said that he struggled to get the vehicle back under control before the collision.
“I strove my best to decrease the speed at the bend, but the brakes did not respond and the truck went out of my control,” Kebeng told the newspaper “I strove my best to decrease the speed at the bend, but the brakes did not respond and the truck went out of my control.”
Kebeng who is employed by local company Alzodaez and has been in the Kingdom for a year, said that he was en-route from the company’s warehouse carrying a flammable substance. He told Arab News that he did not have any previous experience of transportation such loads.
“Although I was carrying hazardous material in my truck, it never occurred to me that an accident of this magnitude would occur. I know that a number of people were killed. But I am just a human being and I never imagined that I would be the cause of such a huge tragedy,” he said.
The explosion is reported to have not caused $80 million and has claimed the lives of 22 people and injured over 130 others.
A company director for Alzodaez said was that those who suffered losses should contact its special committee set up to assess the losses, so that they can determine the amount to be compensated.
