6 dead, 20 others hurt as truck slams into church in Zamboanga del Sur

The ill-fated forward truck lie on its side after crashing on a church in San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur Saturday afternoon. Photo by Leah Agonoy / Inquirer Mindanao

SAN MIGUEL, Zamboanga del Sur — A forward truck with around 50 individuals onboard slammed into a church in Barangay Limonan, San Miguel in Zamboanga del Sur on Saturday afternoon, killing six of its passengers and leaving 20 others injured.

It was raining hard, hence the road was slippery at the time of the accident, said Dennis Amacanin, a local resident who witnessed the crash.

Amacanin narrated that the truck was not speeding, but as it reached the portion of the asphalt road that has a minor curve, it suddenly swerved and rammed an Iglesia Ni Cristo church.

No one was hurt among the people inside the church, Amacanin added.

Three victims died on the spot while those injured were ferried by passing vehicles to Pagadian City for medical treatment.

Captain Roger Bartiana, San Miguel police chief, identified three victims who died on the spot as two-year-old Gerelyn Chavez, Jhon Brynt Albano, 19, and a certain Boboy Cuesta, 34, all residents of Barangay Burawin of Tabina town in Zamboanga del Sur.

Three of those injured later died in the hospital, Bartiana said.

Initial investigation showed that the truck, driven by a certain Edgar, was traveling from Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay where its passengers earlier attended a wedding.

They were all traveling home to Tabina town when the incident occurred.

Police investigators also disclosed that the area of the crash has long been identified as accident-prone. /je