4 dead after truck slams into house in Surigao del Sur

MANILA, Philippines – Four people, two of them students, died Monday when the dump truck they hitched a ride on slammed into a house in Surigao del Sur, police said Tuesday.

Superintendent Martin Gamba, Caraga police spokesman, identified the fatalities as Jerome Domingues, Roberto Gabe Jr., Cornelia Mocay and Sherly Acevedo. Domingues and Gabe Jr. were third year students from Jacinto P. Elpa High School in Tandang City.

Gamba said that Domingues and Gabe Jr., along with their two other wounded schoolmates identified as Joseph Ramirez and Julius Vellescas, hitched a ride on the green dump truck (GNG 378) loaded with sand as it was heading to the city proper from Barangay (village) San Isidro, Tandang City in Surigao del Sur. The truck had two other passengers apart the driver.

He said that the truck driver, identified as Virgelio Bolonia Corlit, sideswept a tricycle around 4 p.m. before smashing into a house along the Provincial Road of Cabiles Subdivision in the village of Telaje, Tandag City allegedly due to failed brakes.

He said that tricycle driver Ryan Policarpio was unhurt. Dominguez and Gabi Jr. were riding on top of the truck while Mocay and Acevedo were seated in front.

Ramirez and Vellescas, who were seated behind the driver, sustained injuries in different parts of their bodies, Gamba said.

He said that the victims were immediately brought to Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center .

The truck, registered under the name of Willy Choa, has since been impounded at Tandag City Police Station for custody and for proper disposition of the case, he said.