ILOILO – One person died and another was injured after the 10-wheeler truck they were riding plummeted into a 50-meter-deep ravine in Barangay Madarag, San Enrique early yesterday morning.
The driver, identified as Jo-an Padilla, 39, of Barangay San Antonio, Pilar, Capiz, survived with minor injuries after jumping off the truck.
Laborer Jay-R Reyes, 30, of Barangay Abong, Carles, Iloilo was unfortunately declared dead at the Don Valerio Palmares District Hospital in Passi City after hours of rescue operations.
The truck, carrying around hundreds of bags of cement, was bound for Roxas City.
According to Police Captain Airel Dawn Parcon, the truck’s brake malfunctioned, causing it to veer off the road and plunge deep down into a cliff.
“Na out-of-control sya, nadulaan preno,” the San Enrique chief of police said in a radio interview.
Although the road was cement, Parcon described the area as curvy and mountainous.
The truck left Barangay Loboc, La Paz district in Iloilo City around 1 a.m.
“Ga-istoryahanay mn sila (Padilla and Reyes), according sa driver,” said Parcon.
Upon learning of the faulty brakes, Padilla claimed to have told Reyes to jump out of the vehicle.
“Gin-hambalan ya man malukso ang pahinante. Pero wala na sya kabalo sang paglukso nya kung ano ang natabo. Syempre sa ka dasig sang paghulog sang salakyan, daw wala sya guro naka-hingagaw gwa,” Parcon added.
As of yesterday afternoon, the driver remained under police custody, waiting for the decision of Reyes’ family on whether or not to press charges./PN
