BACOLOD CITY – A 66-year-old man was killed while three others were injured when a truck loaded with sugarcane rammed a house in Barangay Guintubhan, Isabela, Negros Occidental on Monday, Sept. 12.
Lt. Dante Balenario, deputy municipal police chief, said the truck overtook a tricycle and another tricycle overtook the truck when it attempted to return to its lane.
Truck driver Erniel Terol, 37, told police that the tricycle stopped in front of him to unload some passengers.
Terol said he tried to avoid the tricycle but his truck encountered mechanical trouble and lost control when one of its wheels burst.
He swerved the truck into a house owned by Evelyn Malabon and struck the victims who were sitting outside.
Balenario said that the fatality, Eduardo Malabon, was run over and Eduardo’s nephew Ariel and 15-year-old niece were injured. Dan Plohinog, truck helper, was also injured.
Rescuers took an hour to remove Eduardo under the truck because they have to clear the area of scattered sugarcane, Balenario added.
Balenario said that Evelyn’s house was damaged while Plohinog will be referred to a hospital here.
He added that Terol was released from police custody on Tuesday, Sept. 13, after the lapse of the reglementary detention.
Balenario said that Terol and his employer offered financial assistance to the Malabon family, but they refused, as they are still undecided.