Truck crash survivors tell stories

IT was so sudden that Justiniani Arendain could only cry out for God when it did happen.

Arendain, a 64-year-old farmer and 12-year-old Rochen Paglinawan were among more than 30 survivors of a six-wheeler truck crash in barangay Bongon in Tabuelan town, southeast Cebu past 5 p.m. last Sunday.

Arendain had bruises in her face and wounds in her feet when she was admitted to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

The truck fell into a ravine after it lost its brakes. The accident claimed the life of 50-year-old Nenita Avenido and injured 35 persons.

Arendain said she flagged down the truck in sitio Kabuyawan because she wanted to visit her 22-year-old daughter Aiza who is about to gave birth this month.

Aiza lives in the town center. Arendain sat on top of sacks of rice at the back of the truck when the accident occurred.

“The sacks of rice fell on my face,” she recalled in Cebuano. Softdrink bottles were scattered all over her.

At the hospital, her 42-year-old daughter Mila Ygot and 17-year-old grand daughter Noramae Facultad watched over her.

Ygot said they sought charity aid from the social workers office to pay for ultra-sound tests which cost P3,500.

She said they’re not interested in filing a complaint against the truck driver who is a relative.

Also confined at the hospital was Rochen, a sophomore of Tabuelan National High School.

She wore an oxygen mask and had bruises on her right arm.

Her father Ricardo said Rochen was advised by the attending physician not to eat.

“Dextrose only. The doctor said there was a lump in her lungs,” Ricardo said.

VSMMC spokesman Nonoy Mongaya said Rochen’s medical bulletin is still unavailable.

Ricardo said he and his wife separated sometime ago.

“She (Rochen) said that she wanted to be a security guard just like her two brothers,” he said.

With no advice yet when she can be discharged, they sought charity aid to pay for hospital expenses.

The student hitched a ride on the truck in sitio Basalon, barangay Campoot since it was headed to barangay Poblacion.

The truck driver Delman Llanto, who was injured, is a relative.

Ricardo said about 11 of 13 victims taken to VSMMC were already discharged Monday.

Tabuelan police aid 12 victims including the truck driver were confined in the Tuburan District Hospital.

The 10 victims who were confined in the Sogod District Hospital were discharged last Monday.