Garbage truck runs over scavenger

 CEBU, Philippines - Two persons died in separate vehicular accidents in the towns of San Fernando and Dalaguete last Thursday, while a policeman is in critical condition after an accident at the South Road Properties.

In San Fernando, a scavenger died after she was reportedly ran over by a garbage truck which was disposing garbage at a dumpsite in Barangay North Poblacion, San Fernando an hour before midday.

Marry Jane Torrecampo, 33, a resident of the said place, was declared dead on arrival at the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (DVSMMC) in Cebu City where she was rushed due to severe injuries.

Rogelio Cabrera, 58, of Barangay San Isidro and driver of the truck, was detained at the San Fernando police stockade but was released yesterday afternoon after parties involved settled the matter amicably.

Insp. Crisanto Abella, deputy chief of the San Fernando Police Station, said Torrecampo and some scavengers were reportedly tailing the Isuzu Forward garbage truck bearing plate number GMY 215 owned by the Municipality of San Fernando to gather scrap materials.

The garbage truck just entered the dumpsite during the incident.

“Ingon ana mana diha sundon dayon ang truck sa basura kay mag-ilog sa basura,” Abella said in a phone interview. (They follow the garbage truck around hoping to get to them first.)

Cabrera suddenly drove backward without noticing Torrecampo behind. The truck hit and ran over the victim.

Abella said the municipal government assured to shoulder the burial expenses of the victim.

In another incident, a 56-year-old man died after he was hit by a tricycle on the national road of Barangay Tapon, Dalaguete at 6:30 in the evening.

Lino Magallanes, resident of Tapon, crossed the road but failed to notice the approaching tricycle driven by Felimon Silabay, 33, of Barangay Coro.

SPO1 Veronico Centino, of the Dalaguete Police Station, said Silabay was traveling from Barangay Poblacion and was heading towards Barangay Coro. Silabay panicked when Magallanes suddenly crossed the street.

“Wa man siya kabantay dayon kay nikalit ma’g labang awahi na pag-brake niya,” Centino said. (He didn’t notice him right away and it was too late when he stopped.)

Magallanes was rushed to the Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital and was later transferred to the DVSMMC in Cebu City where he died shortly before midnight.

Magallanes’s body now lies at the St. William Funeral Homes as charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide was being prepared against Silabay.

Meanwhile in Cebu City, SPO2 Conrado Rocamora, Jr. has been fighting for his life in the hospital after he figured in a vehicular accident along South Road Properties last Thursday morning.

Rocamora, 51, sustained head injuries and fractured ribs after he accidentally hit his motorcycle to a lumber blocking the road.

According to the report by the Traffic Patrol Group, Rocamora was driving a motorcycle at 8:30 am last Thursday when he tumbled over the 4x4-wide lumber, which he failed to notice. The lumber, police surmised, might have fallen from one of the cargo trucks usually passing the SRP road.

Rocamora, who was assigned with the Warrant and Subpoena Section of the Cebu City Police Office, was then on his way to Inuburan, Naga City for a tree planting activity of the police.

Rocamora and the motorcycle was thrown his head was banged on the pavement. He was rushed to the Chong Hua Hospital.

“Luoy kaayo akong kuya uy. Iyang ribs ningtusok na sa iyang organs unya naa siya’y mga blood clot sa ulo,” said Pinky Rocamora Bustillo, the policeman’s younger sister.

Rocamora has been in the police service for 30 years. He was assigned as a warrant and subpoena server since 2006. He has filed for an optional retirement and is just waiting for his papers to be approved.  (FREEMAN)