Earlier Truck Malfunction Is Confirmed : Probe: Incident similar to cause of fatal bus accident occurred in August, officials say. A possible third such trash vehicle breakdown is also being investigated.

Los Angeles officials confirmed Wednesday that a second city trash truck suffered a breakdown similar to the garbage truck malfunction that killed two boys last week--and may have even occurred a third time.

As city officials launched an investigation into reports that a rod burst through the side of truck at the Sanitation Department’s Harbor District yard last year, the City Council ordered an immediate audit of maintenance records for trucks similar to the one involved in the fatal school bus collision.

Trash continued to pile up on curbs throughout the city--collection has been delayed up to three days for some residents--as the number of trucks pulled out of service grew to a third of the usual fleet. Hardest hit was the 120-square-mile east San Fernando Valley district where 14 trucks were out picking up trash left over from Monday and Tuesday.

In the harbor area, none of the 29 trucks were in service Wednesday. Trucks from neighboring South-Central Los Angeles were sent in to cover the area.

About 218 of the automated trucks were on the street Wednesday, down from 228 the previous day. The city has 390 of the automated trucks similar to the one involved in the bus accident.

Forty-eight trucks that were previously inspected were kept out of service for reinspection, but Sanitation Department chief Del Biagi could not explain what problems were found.

“We have no estimate at this time on when we will be getting back to normal” citywide, he said.

At City Hall, City Council members went into closed sessions to grill officials about “disturbing new information” regarding a Times report Wednesday that a malfunction similar to the one that killed the two boys occurred earlier this year at the Lopez Canyon Landfill.

“I think all of my colleagues are astounded that management was unaware that this happened before,” said Councilman Richard Alarcon. “We were also upset that we learned about it in the press.”

Randall Bacon, general manager of the city Department of General Services, said Wednesday that the Lopez Canyon incident “apparently did happen” this past August, but he could provide no specifics. No one was injured, he said. The incident is under investigation.

Bacon confirmed that his office was also investigating a report that a rod broke through the side of a truck at the Harbor District yard in August, 1994, but he could not say whether the incident occurred.

“We’re trying to find out exactly what happened,” he said.

Within a few days, an investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board will join California Highway Patrol investigators and a metallurgical expert hired by the city in examining the truck involved in last week’s accident. The inspection was delayed because of the rain.

The CHP is investigating what caused the incident and so far has interviewed more than 50 witnesses. If there were violations of the law, the matter could be referred to prosecutors, said CHP Capt. Ray Blackwell.

Meanwhile, Brian Serrano, one of two 8-year-old boys killed in the accident, was laid to rest Wednesday at a service attended by family members, schoolmates and Mayor Richard Riordan.

Brian and Francisco Mata, students at Glen Alta Elementary School in Montecito Heights, were killed when a 12-foot rod tore through the side of the passing trash truck and slammed into the school bus on which they were riding.

The service at St. Athanasius Church in Long Beach was attended by nearly 50 mourners. Maria Serrano stood beside her only child’s silver-colored casket, neatly decorated with red roses and white carnations, softly caressing it throughout the eulogy.

“Why has God permitted this tragedy to happen?” asked Father John Gutting, pastor of the church. “It is hard to let go. Who would’ve ever known that his young life on earth would come to such a sudden end.”

“This was Mrs. Serrano’s only child,” said a visibly shaken Riordan after the service. “What saves many parents who have lost a child is the thought of their remaining children. I just can’t imagine their sorrow. They will have to keep going, but it will be tough.”

Glen Alta Principal James Allen, who attended the funeral along with Brian’s teacher Annette Gonzalez and several of his classmates, delivered an envelope with $500 in cash from private donations to the family.

Brian’s classmate Luz Maria Rivas, 7, said she was happy she had gone to the service in honor of her friend.

“He always let us borrow his things,” she said. “He was always having a good time. We miss him very much.”