2 dead in boom truck mishap

A BOOM truck fell into a 50-foot ravine at past midnight yesterday in barangay Uling, Naga City killing the driver and truck helper.

The driver was identified as Ramel Ochea, 37, of Antipolo, Rizal while the helper was Arquilao Villacin of Puting Bato, Malabon, Navotas City, both employees of CCT Consortium Propose Brother Industry Philippines Inc. Factory.

Witnesses said the truck came from Toledo City and was negotiating a downward slope when it fell into the ravine and landed in front of Uling Elementary School.

The kitchen of the house of Renato Villacencio which is located below the cliff was damaged.

Big rocks dislodged in the truck’s fall damaged the living room where Villacencio and his nine-year-old son were sleeping. The rocks destroyed the door to the living room and almost hit their heads.

Valentino Canoneo, a barangay tanod, said that the driver had been incessantly blowing the truck’s horn making him suspect that its brakes had malfunctioned.

Reggie Villarmia immediately called the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) and the Bureau of Fire Protection in Naga City for help.

FO2 Rey Gerdiano of the Naga City BFP said they had difficulty in freeing the bodies that were pinned under the truck.

A crane had to be used to lift the truck.

Villacin’s body was pulled out at 7:35 a.m. yesterday while Ochea’s body was pulled out after at 2:25 p.m.  /Fe Marie D. Dumaboc and Correspondent Michelle Padayhag