A WATER tanker which was on its way to various evacuation sites in Makilala, North Cotabato to deliver a company’s donation of potable water figured in an accident at Purok 11, Patulangon, in the municipality.
In an interview Tuesday, November 5, with Makilala Police Station traffic investigator Master Sergeant Xerxes Anthony Fiel, the seven-tonner tanker is owned by Jora Trucking Company based in Davao City whose product is Dumoy freshwater. It was supposed to deliver the water in Poblacion, Makilala.
“Actually, kato sa Dumoy ice plant isa ka driver ug isa ka helper niya maghatod og tubig sa evacuation site sa linog sa Makilala. Sige na to’g hatod diri kay voluntary niya nga tabang sa mga tao nga wala’y tubig (Actually, the driver and the helper deliver the water to evacuation sites in Makilala. They have been delivering water voluntarily to help the people),” he said.
Based on their investigation, the tanker left Dumoy Ice Plant in Davao City at dawn but at around 7:50 a.m. on Tuesday, it tumbled after its break malfunctioned.
“Pag-abot sa Patulangon, Makilala sa kurbada nga bahin, mechanical defect due to lose control of break resulta sa dili na makontrol ang sakyanan, nisaka kini sa concrete railing sa bukid, pagsaka niya nakulob (When they arrived at a curb portion in Patulangon, Makilala, the truck encountered mechanical defect as it lost its break control, the truck ascended to the concrete mountain railing, and when it fell, it flipped over),” he added.
The fatal incident claimed the life of the helper alias Nonoy, a native from Cateel, Davao Oriental. He was declared dead on arrival at Makilala Midway Hospital after he was pressed against the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Gaspar Caber, 50, resident of Talomo, Davao City, the company’s driver, sustained a head injury.
The cadaver of the victim is now at the morgue of the hospital waiting for its claimant.
Fiel said the area where the incident happened is prone to accident, adding that almost every month, they responded to vehicular accidents. Thus, he advised the companies and operators to orient their drivers on Blowbagets which means to check always the trucks’ battery, lights, oil, water, brake, air, gas, engine, tire, and self to prevent accidents along the way. (JCR)