Road mishap kills 5 in Puerto

FIVE people died while several others were injured in a multiple vehicular collision in Barangay Puerto, this city, police said Friday afternoon.

Police Officer 2 Edward Sy of Puerto Police Station said four of the fatalities were passengers of a Libona Liner public utility jeepney while the other was a “backrider” of a motorcycle as one of five vehicles involved in the incident.

The vehicles involved in a accident were a 10-wheeler truck, PUJ Libona Liner, KIA Sorento Wagon, brand new Honda XR 200 and Isuzu elf van.

The collision, according to Sy, happened around 4:45 p.m. at Purok 6, Upper Puerto.

Police initial investigation showed that the 10-wheeler truck which was loaded with empty bottle of softdrinks and was driven by Francisco Junio of Zone 2 Barangay Agusan, this city was proceeding down to Puerto proper while the PUJ, KIA Sorento, the motorycle and van were also heading towards Bukidnon.

It was learned that the 10-wheeler truck was registered to Reynaldo L. Gonzales.

“The 10-wheeler truck suddenly lost its brake causing it to hit the approaching Libona liner and the other vehicles,” police said.

The PUJ, which was driven by Rodolfo Abrogueña, was registered to Juan Levi of Pongol, Libona Bukidnon, while the Kia Sorento was owned by Mariano Cruz and was driven by Rubelie Cabiguin of Velez Subdivision Zone 7, Barangay 9, in Malaybalay City; owner of the motorcycle is Police Officer 1 Julius Lomongo of Barangay Puerto but assigned in Valencia City Police Station while the van driven by Milky Cagas who was injured was registered to Forest Park Dahilayan.

Lomongo’s girlfriend was among the fatalities of the freak accident, police said.

Police said the incident is now under investigation.