BONTOC, Mountain Province– Five were injured when a black V10 dump truck bearing plate number RHE 625 fell down along the Balili-Sagada Road and landed on its left side along the Bontoc-Baguio road about 50 feet deep and nearly fell again towards the Chico River recently. The ill-fated vehicle is owned by Edwardo Latawan, Jr. of Antadao, Sagada.
The victims were identified as Helen Buswilan, Jenaril Buasen, Imelda Bulalit, Judilyn Tayab, all of Balili, Bontoc and Kelvin Padawil, native of Santilan Street, Tabaco, Albay.
The victims were rescued by concerned civilians and rushed to Bontoc General Hospital which is 10 kilometers away from the accident site based on the police report.
Padawil narrated in an interview with this writer that he came from Cervantes alone with the truck loaded with big stones to be delivered to Payag-eo, Sagada for the ongoing road widening project.
“When I reached the crossing (at Alab Proper), four women rode in. When we were ascending, it was still okay until we reached a narrow portion of the road where the truck tilted and fell off.”
“The road gave in,” the driver said when asked why it tilted.
He said that he was conscious when they landed on the national road and it was good indication that he heard his passengers talking.
“I have difficulty in breathing since my (pointing to his chest) hit the steering wheel.”
Observers said that maybe due to the weight of the load of the truck, the portion of the road already saturated by the continuous rains the past days due to the southwest monsoon gave in easily.
The portion of the Balili-Sagada Road that gave in is just a few meters away from the erosion site that partially damaged the house of Ervin Ngoddo six days before the incident.
A relative of one of the victims mentioned that the four women are working under the DENR and assigned at Antadao, Sagada.
The victims were referred to a hospital in Baguio City on different dates.** Ferdie Cariño Castañeda
