BAGUIO CITY – A fuel tanker truck with 24,000 liters of gasoline fell off a ravine in Sitio Bawek, Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet, early Monday morning.
According to Cordillera Provincial Police Director Brig. Gen. RWin Pagkalinawan, the truck, which was being driven by DIezon Asis Bernardo, 34, and from Batasan Hills, Quezon City, was on its way to Baguio City when the incident happened.
Quoting Tuba town police investigators, Pagkalinawan said Bernardo was negotiating an uphill portion of the road, and tried to overtake another fuel tanker when the 18-wheeler truck suddenly veered towards the shoulder of the road, and plunged into the eight-meter ravine.
Pagkalinawan said the gasoline did not leak from the tanker.
According to Benguet Provincial Police Director Col. Elmer Ragay, Bernardo was taken to the Baguio General Hospital by responding personnel of the Bureau of Fire for medical treatment.
Bernardo told police investigators that he overtook another fuel tanker, and was returning to his lane when he lost control of the vehicle until it reached a sharp curve then swerved to the right shoulder before falling into the ravine and resting upside down at the bottom.