GATTARAN, Cagayan – Five people were injured after a delivery truck plunged into a 20-meter-deep ravine in Barangay San Carlos here on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Dennis Domingo, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said the truck was on its way to Aparri, Cagayan from Cauayan City, Isabela to deliver eggs when the driver lost control of the vehicle upon reaching Barangay San Carlos in the boundary of Baggao and Gattaran due to brake failure.
The vehicle plunged into a ravine and landed in a creek.
Four victims were taken to a hospital here and reported to be in stable condition.
One victim sustained a fractured shoulder and was taken to a hospital in Tuguegarao City for further treatment.
Rescuers had difficulty extricating the driver who was pinned behind the steering wheel.
The rescue operation lasted nearly two hours and required technical extraction using rescue equipment such as spreaders, cutters, and a boom truck before the driver was successfully freed.
Domingo noted that the road was slippery as it was raining at the time of the accident.
Vehicles were reportedly being rerouted due to a damaged bridge, forcing large trucks and buses to pass through the area despite not being a suitable route.