3 dead, 6 hurt as truck plunges into ravine

By Nitz Arancon and Lito Rulona

THREE people died while six others were badly hurt when a 10-wheel truck plunged into a 30-foot ravine near the Macahambus Cave on Sunday morning.

Senior Insp. Ericson Sabanal, Lumbia police chief, said the accident killed Mark Anthony de la Vega, 20; Elmer de la Vega and Edo Resolote of Barra, Barangay Macabalan.

Struggling for life at the stateun Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) at presstime are Edison de la Vega, 20; Erick de la Vega, 32; Jose de la Vega, 22; and Edgar de la Vega, 42, all of Macabalan; Phillip Bonda, 20, of Barangay Gusa; and Rogelio Ladao, 47, of Barangay Cugman.

Sabanal said the 10-wheeler, with license plates TEK-273 and owned by Edgar de la Vega, was driven by Ladao.

The victims, mostly relatives, were all working for Edgar.

The truck was moving a 40-foot container van loaded with rattan from Barangay Ugwayan, in Talakag town, Bukidnon, and was headed to the Tagoloan port in Misamis Oriental, when it lost its breaks and plunged into the ravine in Barangay Mambuaya.  The rattan poles were supposed to be shipped to Cebu from the Tagoloan port.

Ladao said he was negotiating a slope when the truck’s brakes malfunctioned.

“Ako na lamang unta to nga ibangga sa bukid nga bahin pero naa may katabo mao nga nahulog sa pangpang,” he said.

Mark Anthony de la Vega and Edo Resolote died on the spot while Elmer de la Vega succumbed to injuries at the NMMC in the afternoon.

Sabanal said the first to two fatalities were thrown out of the vehicle and then crushed by the truck’s heavy load.

Sabanal said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was looking into whether or not environmental laws were violated.

Meanwhile, a hospital worker was killed in a road accident in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, also on Sunday morning.

Rolando Zayas, 48, died at the NMMC hours after a motorcycle crash.

Zayas, a widower, allegedly had a drink too many when he lost control of his motorcycle.