Driver dead as truck overturns in Borbon

CEBU, Philippines – A man was killed after a fuel tanker truck he was driving overturned in Barangay Sagay, Borbon town early yesterday morning.

Jose Gomera, 41, a resident of Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

His passenger, Mylen Solero, 35, of Barangay Pusok also in Lapu-Lapu City, was injured.

According to Senior Police Officer 2 Richeleu Artisita of Borbon Police Station, the accident happened while Gomera, employed at Petro Logistics Corporation, was driving towards Bantayan Island to deliver 20,000 liter of petrol.

Artisita said based on the account of Solero, who hitched a ride on the truck, the vehicle overturned when Gomera failed to control it upon reaching a curved road in Barangay Sagay.

Both of them were thrown away from the vehicle because of the impact.

Residents in the area saw a severely injured Gomera sprawling on the road bathed in petrol and Solero grimacing in pain.

The victims were rushed to Juan Dosado Memorial Hospital in Sogod town but Gomero no longer made it there alive. Solero is still undergoing treatment of her injuries.

Since the road was slippery owing to the spilled fuel, Borbon police asked assistance from Sogod Fire Station to remove the oil.

A police officer was also deployed in the area to caution motorists. — Bryner L. Diaz/NSA (FREEMAN)