3 truck hitchhikers die in Davao de Oro accident

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Three hitchhikers were instantly killed when the dump truck carrying them rolled over twice after its driver lost control of the wheel due to mechanical trouble while maneuvering through a downhill mountain road in New Bataan, Davao de Oro on Tuesday afternoon.

The New Bataan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and officials of the local police identified the fatalities as Marjin Alagon, Peo Mesiona and Samuel Painandos, whose cadavers were immediately brought by MDRRMO emergency responders to a mortuary.

Radio reports here on Wednesday had quoted local leaders and investigators from the New Bataan Municipal Police Station as saying that the dump truck first wiggled uncontrollably when its brake system malfunctioned before it repeatedly rolled over and landed on its side in the center of the farm-to-market road in an interior area in the upland municipality.

The driver of the dump truck and two other hitchhikers were badly injured in the accident, according to the New Bataan MPS.

The New Bataan local government had reportedly assured to provide the families of Alagon, Mesiona and Painandos with support needed for their burial.