TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines – Eight persons died while eight others were injured in a collision involving a truck and a multi-cab in this city on Sunday.
The fatalities, among them Police Officer 2 Dennis Yalong and an infant, were in a multi-cab (AAU-2464) on their way home to Isulan town from an excursion in this city.
The victims were taken to the Sultan Kudarat Doctors’ Hospital in this city and Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital in Isulan for treatment.
Witnesses said one of the tires of the 10-wheeler truck exploded as it was traveling along the highway in Barangay EJC Montilla at around 4:30 p.m.
The collision broke the multi-cab into pieces and caused the tuck to fall into a canal, according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Junnie Buenacosa.
Police received reports from survivors that the driver of the multi-cab fell asleep, causing the vehicle to hit the truck, which was loaded with sacks of palay.
“There are different versions of the accident. We need to validate all of these before making a conclusion,” Buenacosa said. The truck driver and his two helpers suffered minor injuries. They surrendered to responding barangay officials and were turned over to the police.