DIPOLOG CITY —- At least nine persons died and seven others were injured after a truck fell off the road and slammed into trees in Sitio Quary, Barangay (village) Mamawan of Baliguian town, Zamboanga del Norte on Wednesday morning.
Responding police personnel from the Baliguian municipal police station led by Police Corporal Arnel Veleroso Murro found out that the red truck, loaded with sacks of copra and hitch riders sitting on top, fell off some 20 meters down the shoulder of the road after the driver lost control of it.
The truck was bound for Labason town.
A police report said nine died on spot, identified as Adjie A. Hadjal, the truck helper, and passengers Marcelina Taga Humunong, Mesterio Ondog Suales, Insing Chiong Ompia, Analyn Budong, Alicita Asdai Abong, Marciano Imbal Ansali, Junie Villanueva Sanibat, and Christy Timtim Sandigo.
The driver, Reynaldo Bitong Hadjal, was among the seven injured who were brought to the Labason municipal hospital.
The truck was registered to Danilo G. Bubarin, a businessman in Labason.