1 dead as truck plows into 15 vehicles

BAGUIO CITY — A motorcycle rider was killed while five others were hurt after a 10-wheeler delivery truck plowed into 15 vehicles along Bokawkan Road at around 10:45 p.m. Thursday.

The motorcycle rider was identified as Jeffrey Bulan Manao, a 38-year-old miner and resident of Upper Pinget, Baguio City. He was proclaimed dead-on-arrival at the Pines Doctor’s Hospital.

The driver of the truck containing 14 tons of fertilizers was identified as Aldrin Prieto, 29. His two passengers were also identified as Jobert Ruzgal and Alfie Gumabalista. All three are residents of General Trias, Cavite.

Also injured after their vehicle was hit were Altifanie Ferrer Miranda, 27, Tita Ferrer Miranda, 68 and Althea Ferrer Miranda, 31 of Barangay Tabora, Baguio City.

Police investigation showed the Isuzu wing-van truck came from Parañaque City. The truck was heading to La Trinidad, Benguet via Bokawkan Road when it experienced loose breaks. The truck accelerated downward after the driver lost control, hitting a taxi and 6 more vehicles.

The truck crossed over the other lane hitting the motorcycle driven by Manao. The motorcycle rider was thrown meters away because of the impact.

As the driver was struggling to gain control, the truck sideswiped another vehicle that hit the gate of a house along the edge of the road. The debris caused by the impact destroyed two cars that were parked in front of the house.

ll the 15 vehicles were partially to totally damaged. The fertilizers meanwhile were scattered on the road.

The driver and his two companions are now under police custody. Prieto will be facing a charge of homicide with multiple physical injuries and multiple damage to properties through reckless imprudence.