Truck goes overboard while being loaded onto vessel

CEBU, Philippines — A mini dump truck fell into the sea while it was boarding a vessel at the Hilton Wharf in Sitio Boot, Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, yesterday morning, August 31.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 2 investigator Nicholas Torreon said the incident was reported to the station by a concerned citizen at around 7:45 A.M.

Torreon said initial investigation showed that the blue Canter mini dump truck, owned by Cocomart Hardware, was being driven by Michael Heruela, 34, a resident of Sitio Kahayag, Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.

The truck was loaded with sand, cement, and wood when it attempted to board a vessel owned and operated by Jomalia Shipping Corp.

According to Torreon, the vessel’s ramp tilted upward while the truck was traversing it, which he attributed to the low tide. The heavily-loaded truck then moved backward.

The vessel also moved backward, causing the rope securing the truck to break. The truck gradually slid off the ramp before falling into the sea and becoming submerged.

“Pa-on board na ‘yung truck tapos sa sobrang bigat niya, kasi loaded ‘yun ng mga sand at cement. Pag-atras nung ramp ng vessel, hindi masyado naka-tilt sa semento. Nag-backward yung vessel, umatras din ang sasakyan, naputol ang rope, tuluyan nang nahulog,” Torreon said.

Torreon said authorities have yet to determine who may be held liable for the incident as the investigation continues.

Heruela and the vessel’s chief mate, Waren Cellan, 35, of Inabanga, Bohol, was at the scene when the incident occurred.

Cellan, who was assisting in loading the truck onto the vessel, was struck by the rope on his left chest when it snapped. He said he initially felt numbness from the left side of his chest down to his legs following the impact.

“Pagkahitabo murag na-paralyze akong lawas pero karon bun-og naman lang, okay naman,” Cellan said.

Cellan said the vessel’s ramp was moving during the incident, although he said loading vehicles of similar weight was a normal operation for them.

“Normal ra man gud nga karga namo ing-ana nga bug-ata, pero akong nabantayan lang g’yud ato kay lihok ang rampa, masibog-sibog, maong nahulog g’yud,” he said.

Heruela, meanwhile, said he immediately jumped from the truck and landed on the concrete before the vehicle fell into the water.

“Nakalayat ko niya nakatungtong man ko sa cemento. Pagtukod nako, nilusot ko sa windshield,” Heruela said.

He said he did not sustain any injuries.

Jomalia Shipping’s operations manager coordinated the deployment of two boom trucks to retrieve the submerged vehicle.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Lapu-Lapu City Station was also notified of the incident and placed the vessel on hold pending an investigation into possible operational lapses.

Apprentice Seaman Jayvee Torralba of the Lapu-Lapu PCG said the vessel’s operation was temporarily suspended while the incident was being investigated.

Torralba said the shipping line may resume operations after the investigation and once authorities determine that it is safe to proceed.

As of this writing, the submerged truck remained at the site pending retrieval. — (FREEMAN)