32 hurt as truck turns turtle

NORTH UPI, Maguindanao — A cargo truck fully loaded with hitchhikers turned turtle along an accident-prone portion of the highway here Thursday, leaving 32 people injured, including a 17-year-old ethnic Tiruray who lost his right leg in the crash.

North Upi Mayor Ramon Piang said only half of those hurt were confined in hospitals.

One of the injured hitchhikers, Jomar Eli, 17, lost his lower right leg pinned by the metal siding of the truck.

"Our people are used to hitchhiking because of the lack of vehicles plying their hinterland villages. Accidents like this happens once in a while in North Upi," Piang said.

The truck driver, Mario Calo, gave himself up to the police.

Piang has ordered the municipal budget officer and treasurer to provide the victims with medicines and their other needs.

About two years ago, seven hitchhikers were killed when a vintage World War II military 6 x 6 truck they were riding in plunged into a ravine in Barangay Kabog-Kabog. — John Unson