Container vans fall off trailer: 4 dead, 8 hurt in roadside tragedy

CEBU, Philippines - A tragedy marred the fiesta celebration of the Sacred Heart Church in barangay Poog, Toledo City when a prime mover truck lost its brakes and the trailer loaded with vans it was towing toppled and killed four people on the spot.

Eight others have also been reported injured in the incident that took place on the eve of the fiesta celebration of the place.

The fatalities were pinned by two 20-foot container vans. The accident happened around 4 p.m.

SPO3 Allan Barquin, Toledo City Traffic chief investigator, identified the fatalities as Efren Sitoy, 24; Ariel Roble, 19; Orlando Sunggayan, 32; and a cousin of his (Barquin’s) wife identified as Juliet Mainit, an elderly woman who was selling goods along the road.

Those injured were identified as Eddie Hermoso, 26 and his wife Laarni, both from barangay Awihaw, of the said city; Arjie Sunggayan, 10 and his four-year-old brother, Adrian; Mike Henry Cañizares, 34; Peter Abadilla, 28; Avita Castañares, 45; and Vilma Casas, 39, of barangay Lalang, Danao City.

The addresses of the other injured victims were not yet confirmed as of last night as they were immediately transferred to a hospital in Cebu City from the Toledo District Hospital.

The driver of the prime mover owned by CNT Trucking was identified as Joel Pepito, 31, of barangay Tulay, Minglanilla.

Pepito reportedly worked in a company owned by one Edwin Casas who hails from barangay Dakit, Bogo city.

PO3 Julius Sanchez, the PNP investigator, said that the prime mover, which came from Cebu City, was cruising downhill from barangay Cantabaco when it suddenly lost its brakes.

Pepito said that he tried desperately to maneuver his truck away from the vehicles parked along the road, but it instead resulted to the trailer and the vans falling off.

The container vans were loaded with empty sacks that were supposed to be brought to Atlas Fertilizer Corp in barangay Sangi of the same city.

“Akong gi-hand brake, akong gi-maxi break unya akong gikambyo, wala man g’yud mohunong. Pag-abot nako sa unahan, pista man diay didto, pwerteng daghanang tawo. Daghan kaayo kong nadam-agan, duna pa’y babaye siguro ‘to,” Pepito told The FREEMAN.

He added that due to his fear that he might by lynched he took another vehicle and went to the nearby barangay Don Andres Soriano (DAS) where he surrendered to the police.

Two mini cabs, which were parked in front of the church, were also total wrecks.

Pepito, who has been driving prime movers for the past nine years, said that he is familiar with the route as he often passes it on his way to Atlas Fertilizer.

He said that he tried to warn people about the problem he was experiencing with the vehicle by honking the horn.

This recent accident comes just eight days after the tragedy at the Transcentral Highway in barangay Cansomoroy, Balamban, which claimed the lives of 21 people including 20 Iranian nationals. — with Edwin Ian Melecio of Banat News/NLQ   (THE FREEMAN)