Truck falls into Quezon ravine; driver dead, helper hurt

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY — A truck driver was killed and his helper was injured on Wednesday night when their vehicle plunged into an eight-meter-deep ravine in Pagbilao, Quezon.

Pagbilao police said in a report Thursday that a truck crane being driven by Jeffrey Mandia, 37, was negotiating a descending and curved section of the diversion road in Barangay Silangang Malicboy around 7 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle due to faulty brake.

The wayward truck consequently crashed into coconut trees and hit a hut on the road side before it plunged into the ravine and turned turtle.

The driver was pinned down inside the truck while his helper, Aljhov Aranas, 28, suffered injuries.

They were taken to the Quezon Medical Center in neighboring Lucena City but Mandia died while on the way there.

No occupants of the hut were hurt in the incident.