Death toll in North Cotabato road accident rises to 18

COTABATO CITY — Five more people died after they were hit by a wayward dump truck Saturday, bringing to 18 the death toll in the accident in Makilala, North Cotabato, which was still grieving over a deadly bomb attack more than two weeks ago.

Makilala officials said one of the fatalities was a policeman, a certain P03 Ronnie Daut, while another lawman, P03 Jose Marie Molina, a member of the 1202nd Provincial Mobile Group, remained in coma due to serious head injuries.

Daut, Molina and more than a dozen civilian volunteer rescuers from Kidapawan City had just come from day-long training on life-saving techniques at a resort in Makilala and were buying fruits at a roadside stall when the wayward dump truck, loaded with some 12 cubic meters of sand, hit them.

A member of the Kidapawan City rescue group, Nelson Fuertellano, was among those killed on the spot.

Police said 13 people were initially killed in the accident, and five others died overnight in two hospitals.

Marlon Seballos, a senior staffer of the Kidapawan City rescue and relief unit, identified the truck driver as Florendo Rondina, who remained in critical condition.

Ten others suffered serious injuries in the accident.

The dump truck reportedly lost its brakes while maneuvering a downhill curve, causing it to smash into several vehicles before plowing through villagers celebrating their fiesta in Makilala past 3 p.m. Saturday.

"The impact was so strong it hurled some people out of the parked vehicles," the Associated Press quoted Makilala Mayor Honofre Respicio as saying.

"I have told my people we must face reality and life must go on, but maybe we should pray harder to stop this series of unfortunate events," he said.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol said he would help provide cash assistance to the victims’ families.

Inspector Reynaldo Donor, Makilala police chief, said they were trying to get in touch with the truck owner, who he said "must be held liable, too."

Donor said some of the fatalities remained unidentified.

Last Oct. 10, a powerful explosion blamed on Moro militants struck the municipal center, leaving six people dead and more than 30 others wounded. — With Ramil Bajo and AP