‘Wayward’ military truck kills 2, hurts 4 in Sogod

CEBU, Philippines — Two people were confirmed dead while four others were injured after an army truck went wayward resulting in a six-vehicle collision in Sitio Canduang, Barangay Damolog in Sogod town in northern Cebu yesterday afternoon.

Police Staff Sergeant Avito Mansing, Jr., investigator at Sogod Police Station, identified the fatalities as motorcycle driver Rexcel Pepito Presillas, 23, Sangguniang Kabataan chairman of Barangay Cabangahan, Sogod, Cebu, and his passenger Jestoni Comendador, 23. The names of those injured from the accident were not available as of press time.

 Aside from the military truck, the collision also involved two motorcycles, two pick-up trucks and a sedan.

Mansing said was negotiating a blind curve on its way back to Cebu City from Borbon town when the driver, PFC Gary Pagalong, lost control of the vehicle. The military truck collided into an approaching motorcycle from the opposite direction killing Presillas and Comendador on the spot.

It went on to hit another motorcycle, two pick-up trucks and a sedan before crashing into two residential houses along the highway. Among those injured were two house occupants.

"Ni rombo pa man jud ning truck didto sa usa ka balay sa karsada, naa puy duha ka tawo didto na injured…duha sad ka balay ang na rombohan sa army truck," Mansing said.

"Upat tanan injured. Apil na tong driver ug backrider sa usa ka motor," he added.

The truck driver is safe as well as the drivers and passengers of the two pick-up trucks and the car albeit their vehicles were damaged.

“Base sa among interview sa driver sa army truck, padulhog pa man gud ni sya gikan sa Borbon, dayon pag-abot daw didto sa area nawagtangan daw sya og control sa manibela, wala na sya ka brake kuno, mao to’ng nabangga na sya atong nga sakyanan ug katong balay," said Mansing.

The truck driver is currently detained at the Sogod Police station while waiting for the families of the victims to file a formal complaint. He will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries and damage to properties. — FPL (FREEMAN)