1 dead, 2 hurt as accident mars aid delivery

CEBU, Philippines - Relief operations to help typhoon victims in northern Cebu is taking its toll when two dump trucks delivering goods met an accident in Carmen town early Saturday morning resulting in the death of one and serious injury of a couple.

Leonido Laurente, 49, of Barangay Taytay, Danao City and the driver of the truck bearing plate number GPX 609, pinned at his seat and suffered severe injuries resulting to his death upon arrival at Danao Provincial Hospital.

The couple, Warner and Kristine Pasasadaba, residents of San Carlos Heights Subdivision, Quiot Pardo, Cebu City, sustained injuries in different parts of their bodies and were also immediately rushed to the same hospital.

Police investigation disclosed that another truck bearing plate number GXH 563 driven by Felimon Cerencio, 40, of Barangay Tingub, Mandaue City, was heading north and on a full stop along the national highway of Barangay Dawis Norte, Carmen.

Cerencio was allegedly checking the tires of the rear portion of his truck when Laurente rammed the rear portion of the former.

Both trucks loaded with relief goods intended for the victims of typhoon Yolanda and were travelling on the same direction.

PO3 Juan Joromo, desk officer of Carmen Police Station, said that the truck driven by Laurente was travelling at a high speed.

He said that there was also no early warning device placed a few meters away from the stationary truck at that time.

“Straight man ang dalan dili ingon kurbadahon dili pud dulhugon,” Joromo said in a phone interview adding that Laurente possibly fell asleep while driving.— (FREEMAN)