BONTOC, Mt. Province - Four people were injured when a dump truck bearing plate number RFY 248 heading toward Baguio City collided with an Isuzu Elf truck with plate number XFP 404 at about 6:45 a.m. of May 3, 2016 along Bontoc-Baguio Road at Sitio Tanap, Gonogon, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
The victims were rescued by civilian volunteers and brought to Bontoc General Hospital on board a private vehicle, according to a passenger of the Elf truck.
Among those injured were Jordan Pokya Hallawad, 31, a resident of Sadsadan, Bauko, Mountain Province. Hallawad, who drove the Elf, suffered multiple multiple abrasions, a roll-up fracture on right knee, and a hip and pelvic fracture.
Also injured were Jessica Aswigue Melanio, 42, a housewife and resident of Sadsadan, Bauko, who sustained a puncture wound on her right hand; and Agustina Wapan Awilan, 45, a widow and farmer from Busa, Sabangan.
Susanna Pokya Hallawad, a married farmer from Sadsadan, Bauko, suffered from hyperventilation.
The four injured were brought to the Bontoc General Hospital.
Initial investigation revealed that Osenio Diosan Pasiwat, 33, of Tanulong, Sagada, Mountain Province, was driving the dump truck toward Baguio and did not notice the Isuzu Elf driven by Hallawad on the opposite lane. Pasiwat had encroached into the opposite lane.
The dump truck sustained a broken windshield and left side head light, deformed bumper, and left side door. The Elf sustained broken a windshield and left side head light, deformed left side door, bumper and left side finder, all with undetermined cost of damages.
According to some passengers, the Elf truck came from Sadsadan, Bauko and was bound for Quirino province to attend a fellowship of the Philippine Bethel Church.
Hallawad said the dump truck was moving fast and obviously entered his lane. He said his presence of mind made him stand his ground, as swerving to the right would have meant driving into a deep ravine. (FCC)