Rock rolls down hill, kills woman, hurts another

CEBU, Philippines - A woman died while another woman was injured yesterday morning after getting hit by a rock that rolled down a hill the side of which is being carved to widen a road in sitio Tangub, barangay Lagtang, Talisay City.

The rock first hit Letecia Alcoseba, 50, of barangay Jaclupan. The impact fractured her skull.

She was taken to Chong Hua Hospital but died hours later.

The other woman, identified as Jovy Laborada, 33, of barangay Jaclupan was hit on the right shoulder after the rock allegedly bounced off Alcoseba.

She too was taken to the hospital.

Renato Cabradilla, barangay secretary of Lagtang, said Alcoseba and Laborada were travelling on a motorcycle taxi, locally known as “habal-habal,” on their way to Tabunok from Jaclupan when the incident happened.

The motorcycle was driven by Michael Briones, 33, Laborada’s live-in partner.

Laborada was seated next to Michael while Alcoseba sat in the rear.

Briones, in a phone interview with Banat News (sister publication of The Freeman), said he and one more passenger that sat in front of him were unscathed.

City Councilor Danny Caballero who immediately went to the area after learning about the incident drove the two women to Chong Hua Hospital.

The road widening in the area, a project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), is ongoing. Its contractor is QM Builder.

Willy Abatayo, project manager of QM Builder, said QM Builder will extend financial assistance to the victims.

He said the incident happened at around 8:30 in the morning before work in the area started.

Operation starts at 9:00 am.

But the backhoe was already in position at the upper area when the incident happened.

Abatayo said the backhoe was 15 meters away from the place where the rock slid down.

He said safety measures are in place to prevent accidents.

On other hand, Lagtang village chief Marc Ferdinand Bas said he is waiting for the result of an investigation being conducted by DPWH.

When he receives a copy of the report of the investigation, he will call QM Builder and DPWH to a meeting to discuss about diverting motorists to a road near the river to avoid a similar accident from happening again. (FREEMAN)