Woman killed, 7 injured as wayward delivery truck rams center island railings in Cebu City

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CEBU CITY, Philippines — A woman was killed while seven others were injured early Sunday when their delivery truck rammed the railings of a center island along the national highway in Minglanilla town, about 15 kilometers south of here.

The Isuzu Cargo truck (GXA 714) was heading back to Sibonga town, Cebu, after delivering vegetables to the Carbon public market, Cebu City’s biggest market, when the driver, Joel Cardoza Ephan, 41, fell asleep along the way, said Police Officer 2 Vincent Aliñabo, Minglanilla Police Station desk officer.

He said Ephan accidentally swerved his truck toward the center island along the national highway of Poblacion Ward 3, Minglanilla, Cebu at 3:15 a.m.

The truck rammed the center island railings before it fell on its right side.

Parts of the truck hit a passing motorcycle and caused injury on the driver identified as Rodel Lascuña of Upper Calajoan, Mingnilla.

The lone fatality was identified as Lorenza Canoy, 52, of Sibonga town, who suffered severe head injuries.

Six other passengers were wounded. They were Aurelia Rojo, 43; Rurina Amamangpang, 40; Meliza Torres; and  Narciso Ortiz – all of Sibonga town — and Mark Español 25 and Rizalina Gonzaga, 26, both of Argao town.

Those wounded were brought to Mingnilla District Hospital.

Ortiz, who suffered head injuries, was later transferred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Aliñabo said Ephan suffered a minor injury in his knee. He fled after the accident but later surrendered at the Sibonga Police Station, which turned over the driver to the Minglanilla Police station.

The policeman said one of the injured passengers claimed seeing Ephan was seen drinking beer before they left Carbon market.

Aliñabo said Ephan might be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries.

Baldwin Escalante, truck owner, promised to shoulder the hospital expenses of the victims.