3 hurt in separate road accidents

CEBU, Philippines — A woman suffered burns after a tanker truck crashed into roadside utility posts and a small stall selling hot porridge and steamed rice cakes in Barangay Tunghaan, Minglanilla, around 3:00 a.m. Thursday, June 25.

Police said the driver, identified only as Will, 33, a resident of Talisay City, fell asleep while driving.

Will reportedly admitted that he had dozed off while traveling from Mandaue City and was returning to the City of Naga.

The vendor noticed the approaching tanker truck and managed to move away in time before it crashed into the utility posts and the stall.

However, Jeje, 23, an employee of a nearby eatery, sustained burns on the right side of her body after hot water from the stall spilled onto her during the crash. She was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.

The driver was later brought to the Minglanilla Police Station for further investigation.

Meanwhile, a separate road accident occurred a day before the Minglanilla incident. A driver and his truck boy were seriously injured after the wing van truck they were riding in crashed along the roadside of the Transcentral Highway in Barangay Gaas, Balamban, around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24.

The truck was driven by Winnie Lambayong, 32, a resident of Barangay Pelesa, Totong 4, Bacolod City, while his truck boy was identified as Benzer Laquinon, 21.

Police Major Ian Macatangay, chief of the Balamban Police Station, said the wing van truck came from Escalante, Negros, and was heading to Cebu City carrying hardware materials.

The vehicle arrived at the Port of Tabuelan on Wednesday morning before continuing its trip to Cebu City.

Macatangay said the truck’s brakes malfunctioned while it was traversing a curved section of the Transcentral Highway.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a roadside canal.

The truck sustained damage, trapping Lambayong and Laquinon inside.

Rescuers later extricated the two and rushed them to the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Balamban.

Despite their severe injuries, both victims were already in stable condition, according to doctors. — /MRM (FREEMAN)