Thursday, July 05, 2007 Cargo truck falls off cliff: 4 die, 11 hurt
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Four hitch-hikers died while 11 others were injured when a vintage weapon carrier rigged up to be a cargo truck fell off a ravine at around 11 a.m. Tuesday, at Sitio Baguan, Barangay Lun Padidu in Malapatan town, Sarangani province.
Of the 11 injured passengers, only six were admitted to different hospitals while the others just underwent first aid.
Efren Saliganan, Sarangani Provincial Police director, said the truck, a World War II vintage weapon carrier more commonly referred to as a "3/4" (for 3/4 ton), was negotiating a downward slope when the driver lost control of the wheels, apparently due to some mechanical failure.
Saliganan advised the drivers of cargo trucks plying difficult routes leading to remote villages in the province to make periodic checks of their vehicle before the trip.
He said this is to ensure the safety of the passengers during the duration of the travel.
Several of the passengers managed to jump out after a shouted warning from the driver. Four failed to bail out.
The fatalities were identified as Mira Mangrang, 50; Wendy Ondoy, 29; Michael Pendatun, 16; and a certain Bingbing Pendatun, a pregnant woman in her early 20's.
The cargo truck, owned by a certain Belen Paginan, came from General Santos and was on its way to remote Kinam village in Malapatan.
The families of the victims were planning to file a case of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and multiple serious injuries against the unidentified driver and truck owner. But, the truck owner, however, claimed the passengers hitched a ride on their own volition, as there's no other means of transport from the urban center to Kinam.
Malapatan mayor Aida Singcoy pledged to extend assistance to the families of the victims. (SS-GSC)
