4 dead in 7-vehicle collision in Zamboanga del Sur

PAGADIAN CITY— A case of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides was filed against an Isuzu truck driver here after four individuals were killed and three others were severely injured  in a seven-vehicle crash along the national road in Barangay Esperanza, Ramon Magsaysay town in Zamboanga del Sur on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Inspector Ryan Wakat, Ramon Magsaysay police chief, identified the Isuzu trailer truck driver as Fructoso Ponce Bation, 54.

According to reports, he was driving a truck loaded with 800 sacks of raw cane sugar, but he lost control of the vehicle while overtaking a dump truck. It plowed through five other cars and a motorcycle along the highway.

The drivers of a Kia Bongo vehicle and a motorcycle died on the spot while the driver of blue Bongo truck, identified as Armando Bunayog of Kapalaran Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur, was declared dead on arrival at the  Blancia Hospital in Molave town, Zamboanga del Sur.

Meanwhile, Kia Bongo truckman Julio Andales, who was among the severely injured, died on Sunday.

A policeman driving the blue Bongo truck was confined at Salug Valley Medical Center in Molave town while two other severely injured persons, including the trailer truck driver, were confined at the Blancia Hospital in the same town. /ee