Biliran road crash: 14 dead

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Fourteen people were killed while 10 were injured when the dump truck they were riding lost its brakes and fell sideways near the mountain village of Caibiran, Biliran on Saturday.

Police Officer I Noel Nierva, traffic investigator of the national police in Naval, Biliran, said the dump truck was loaded with mourners from Barangay Villa Caneja who were on their way to Caibiran town, some 19 kilometers from the capital town.

Provincial police spokesman Chief Inspector Wilfredo Gervacio said 13 of the victims were crushed and killed instantly in the accident that occurred around 8:30 p.m., while another died in hospital.

Those who died on the spot were Honoria Regir, Lolita Gahum, Darwin Sales, Salita Rosite, Anthony Monte, Janet Rosite, Marianito Areglo, Jolita Narido, Renato Escoses, Lito Quinto, Jonalyn Rosite, Josephine Rosite and Manilyn Rosite.

Another victim Jennifer Caliao died while being treated at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban.

Four more victims - Rica Mae Escores, Leonilo Rosite, Lina Areglo and Jeric Areglo - are being treated at the EVRMC. Two others were brought to Divine Word Hospital in Tacloban City, and four are at Biliran Provincial Hospital.

“The dump truck was borrowed for use from Lolita Monte, the barangay chairman of Villa Caneja by the victims who would attend the wake of a relative in Caibiran,” PO1 Nierva said.

Monte was also one of the passengers of the ill-fated dump truck.

“The driver, Antonio Rosite was negotiating a downhill slope in Sitio Atay, Barangay Cabibihan in Caibiran when the brake exploded. The truck skidded and some of the passengers jumped out of the vehicle,” Nierva added.

“The driver is also being treated at Biliran Provincial Hospital,” Nierva said.

There were 28 people in the truck during the incident with survivors suffering various injuries.

“We are a small community here and people know each other, so we are very saddened by this accident,” provincial governor Gerry Espina told local radio.

“The victims were all related to each other and they were on their way to visit a wake of another relative.”

Farm and construction trucks are commonly used to transport villagers in remote parts of the Philippines, and road accidents involving these vehicles as well as old passenger buses are fairly common.

In May, 11 people were killed when a speeding bus fell into a ravine in the northern town of Bontoc, while 41 were killed in a similar accident near a mountain resort town in 2010. - The Freeman