A GOOD SAMARITAN  act by  a man who witnessed an accident leading to dozens of  beer bottles falling from a truck led to his death as he rushed to assist the driver recover some of his load.

While helping collect bottles scattered across the road, Fernando de la Cruz, 33,  was struck and killed by a truck

carrying tanks of acetylene," said a  neighbor.

His death brought the total of traffic accident victims this year to 406, topping last year’s toll of 403. Of that total 141 were pedestrians.