17 hurt in Zamboanga del Sur road mishap

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least 17 people were hurt in a multiple-vehicle collision Wednesday along the highway of Dumalinao town, Zamboanga del Sur.

Police Chief Inspector Rogelio Alabata, information chief of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said the collision involved a hauler truck, passenger jeepney and a delivery van of the Philippine Postal Authority (Philpost).

Police investigation disclosed that the hauler-truck driven by a certain Lucio Abuso Renado, 57, was speeding towards Pagadian City when its brake malfunctioned about 5:20 a.m. Wednesday along the highway at Sitio Purok Talaba, Barangay Camanga, Dumalinao town. Also on board the truck were Redentor Canone Dablo and his live-in partner Renelyn Nano Sebial.

The police said the truck driver lost control of the speeding truck that bumped on the jeepney. The jeepney then rammed on the Philpost delivery van parked along the roadside before smashing on a mini-grocery store.

Alabata said the truck driver and his two passengers, including jeepney driver Rodner Benitez Villarin and his 14 passengers were injured. They were brought to the hospital for treatment.