Truck with rubber latex plunges into river; 1 dead, 15 hurt

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A truck carrying more than two tons of rubber latex plunged into a river in Naga town, Zamboanga Sibugay last Sunday, killing a passenger and causing injuries to 15 others, authorities said.

Investigation showed that the Isuzu forwarder truck driven by one Jifty Adalla, 34, had picked up 2,500 kilos of rubber latex from the Sarbemco plantation in Barangay Sulu, Naga town and was on its way back to Block 32 in the same village when it met the accident.

Police said the truck was maneuvering a slope when its brakes malfunctioned, causing it to plunge into the river.

The fatality was identified as Virgilio Montillano, 24, one of the rubber latex collectors riding on the truck.