Truck falls off ravine: 6 killed, 24 injured

AYUNGON, NEGROS ORIENTAL, Philippines -  —  Six people were confirmed dead while 24 others were injured after a 10-wheeler cargo truck they were hitching for a ride fell off a ravine in Barangay Amdus of this town Friday afternoon.

Police records showed that of four of the six were declared dead on arrival at the hospital: Jocelyn Tiro, 50, Reynaldo Banacia, 40, Judith Abrio, and Chorita Padilla, all from Manjuyod and Bais City.

The two others died while undergoing treatment in Dumaguete City: Charlie Inawas and Claudia Bajar, records from a local funeral parlor said.

Among those injured was the truck driver, Teofilo Cipriano, 60, a resident of Bais City, police also said. The injured passengers were rushed to a district hospital in Bindoy town and were eventually transferred to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital and Silliman University Medical Center in Dumaguete City.

The truck also carried an estimated amount of P250,000 worth of commodities and livestock, according to Sr. Insp. Lorenzo Abella, chief of the Ayungon Police, adding that the truck came from a market day (locally known as tabo) in neighboring Tayasan town.

"On their way back, the truck was carrying around 80 sacks of rice along with some live pigs with 30 passengers who hitched a ride in the truck," Abella told The Freeman in a phone interview.

"The truck was heading downhill in a paved road when it met three habal-habal motorcycles that were heading uphill. The driver tried to shift the gears, but these malfunctioned. In an attempt to dodge the motorcycles, the truck turned right and fell to a ravine in the process," said Abella, noting further that the roadside had no guard rails at all.

Some passengers were thrown away by the impact of the fall, while some got pinned down by the weight of the truck.

Ayungon Mayor Edsel Enarvecido, along with some barangay officials, sent teams to help in the rescue of the victims and recovery of properties, Abella said, adding that, as of press time, the police were investigating the incident.  (FREEMAN)