8 killed as cargo truck smashes into tricycle

BUTUAN CITY — Never drive when drunk.

A driver of a six-wheeler cargo truck learned this lesson too late when he, intoxicated from a drinking binge with warehouse workers early last Friday morning, smashed his vehicle into a passenger tricycle here, killing eight people.

Three of the fatalities were killed on the spot, while the rest died later in three hospitals, police said.

The incident happened during the visit of President Arroyo to Prosperidad, the capital town of Agusan del Sur, where she led the turnover of armchairs made from confiscated logs to beneficiary-schools in the province.

The fatalities were identified as Richard Alejandre, 30, the tricycle driver; Rachel Avancia, 15, a student of the Agusan National High School; Roden Quiver, 53; Quirino Fernandez; Cristina Racaza, 60; Reynaldo Acedo, and Aida Madamba. The eighth victim, a woman in her 30s, remained unidentified.

Police said the cargo truck had come from the warehouse of the Carlos Go Thong Shipping Lines in front of radio station dxBC and was headed toward Barangay Villa Kanangga when it nearly plowed through at least three houses on the roadside.

Although it avoided the dwellings, the truck smashed into the tricycle coming from the opposite direction.

The truck driver, William Dalapo, was charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide.