Two dead, 15 hurt in road accidents

CEBU, Philippines - Two died and 15 others, including a six-month-old baby, were injured in separate vehicular accidents in the towns of Tabogon and Dalaguete.

In the mountain barangay of Tabao, Tabogon, an 80-year-old man died while 15 others were injured after a cargo truck fell on its side after its brakes malfunctioned early morning yesterday.

The Mitsubishi Canter, with license plate numbers GHY-621, was reportedly carrying more than 30 persons including three minors aged four, one, and six months old, all from Sitio Ilaya, when the accident happened. The truck was about to transport voters to the Tabao Elementary School.

Gonzalo Esper was declared dead on arrival at the Juan Dosado Memorial Hospital in Sogod town. The physician said he suffered from a heart attack during the incident.

Those who sustained minor injuries were identified as Ananias Bacu, 86; Faustina Bacu, 78; Eugenio Sumaylo, 78; Ponciana Patotoy, 68; Edgardo Bacu, 57; Alma Puyot, 47; Jennifer Bacu, 44; Leon Momongan, 43; Manuela Momongan, 41; Edina Codiñera, 39; Editha Tuñacao, 29; Jennifer Brion, 21; James Tuñacao, 4; Ken Edger Tuñacao, 1 and six-month-old Katrina Codiñera.

All injured were taken to the Severo Verallo Memorial Hospital in Bogo City.

Truck driver Francisco Hortelano, 37, said the truck was ascending a rough road towards the school when the engine stalled and died. Hortelano said he was able to apply brakes but since the truck was overloaded with passengers, it began to roll back.

“Pag-atras na ug sugod walay lain naa sa akong huna-huna, nga dili lang gyud ko mahulog sa lawom,” Hortelano said.

One side of the road is a cliff while the other is a huge rock.

“Sa tanto nako baiid sa kilid nasaka ang sakyanan sa taas nga portion maong natakilid gyud,” he said.

Hortelano is now detained at the Tabogon police stockade for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and multiple physical injuries.

Tabogon mayoralty candidate Sigfrid Duterte of the National Unity Party has shouldered the medical expenses of the victims of vehicular accident yesterday. Duterte earlier rented the truck to take the voters, all supporters of Duterte, to the polling station.

“Di na gyud mi ka botar,” said one of the victims, Juliana Esper, 79. She is the widow of the fatality. They were sitting beside each other when the accident happened.

Only one patient was referred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for further medication.

In the other incident, a barangay tanod died at the Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital after he was hit by a multicab last Sunday night in Sitio Panagikan, Barangay Mananggal, Dalaguete.

Cristito Otom Sr., 59, was pinned under the multicab and dragged about 50 feet away from the point of impact. Police and residents had to lift the multicab to extract him.

Otom was reportedly about to get on his tricycle with his son when the multicab driven by Robert Bontilao, 41, a seaman, of Barangay Vito, Minglanilla, hit the tricycle. - (FREEMAN)