CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A couple died when the trailer truck they were riding on collided with a wing van truck in an accident along National Road of Sayre Highway in Sitio Damay, Barangay San Vicente, Sumilao town in Bukidnon, the police reported on Friday afternoon, June 24.
The Bukidnon Police Provincial Office identified the victims as Roberto Labjata, driver of the trailer truck carrying an undetermined number of brandnew tricabs, and his wife Veronica Labjata. The couple were from Nabunturan, Davao de Oro province.
Based on the information gathered by the police from the witnesses, the wing van which was loaded with iron scraps was allegedly running too fast.
Upon reaching a curved asphalt road, the wing van driver identified as Ralph John Diama, applied brakes but the sheer strong momentum due to heavy load pushed the vehicle to the opposite lane and collided with an incoming trailer truck.
In his response to the police, Diama said the brake of his driven vehicle malfunctioned. He added that the trailer truck suddenly appeared from the opposite direction when he maneuvered his vehicle to slow down.
Aside from the dead couple, the trailer truck’s head helper identified as Christian Garcia sustained serious injuries and was brought to Bethel Baptist Hospital.
Diama, together with his parents identified as Felix Diama and Vivian Diama, also sustained serious injuries and are now confined at Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center in Barangay Casisang, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
Sumilao local police chief Lt. Sunday Apan, in a phone interview on Saturday, June 25, said the family of the dead victims were no longer interested in filing a case for as long as the owner of the wing van truck is willing to shoulder the expenses and damages.
“The child and the relatives of the victims are not interested in filing a case as long as they can pay for their costs and damages. The owner of the wing van truck is also willing to pay,” Apan said in vernacular.
Three of the brand new tricabs on the trailer truck fell off, according to the police.