2 dead as truck loses brakes, sideswipes 7 other vehicles

PAGADIAN CITY— A six-wheeler truck loaded with fish lost its brakes and went out of control while traversing the national highway in Barangay Paglaum, Dumalinao town in Zamboanga del Sur at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. It sideswiped seven vehicles, killing two drivers and injuring seven persons.

Senior Inspector Neil Pugoy, Dumalinao police chief, said the blue truck from Zamboanga City was on its way to Pagadian City when it went out of control as it followed the descending road from Barangay Camanga to Barangay Paglaum at high speed.

The truck was registered under Jordan Fishing Corporation in Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City and was driven by Ariel Basister Napalcruz, 31, a resident of Barangay Talon-talon, Zamboanga City.

Napalcruz was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival by an attending physician.

Another driver identified as Mario Rola Balabag, 51, a resident of San Miguel town, Zamboanga del Sur, was found dead on the spot. He was driving a forward truck loaded with construction materials for Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur.

Pugoy said the truck sideswiped vehicles along the way; among them, a Toyota Corolla, a Toyota Wigo, a Mitsubishi truck, two motorcycles, and an army truck. /ee