1 dead, 5 hurt as wayward delivery truck plows through crowd in Sorsogon

NAGA CITY, Philippines–A fish delivery truck plowed through a crowd of commuters and killed an elderly man and injured five others, including an infant, along the highway in Matnog, Sorsogon, on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Antonio Madrelejos, 82, of Barangay (village) Mambajog in Matnog was instantly killed after a Denver Fish Dealer truck driven by Ranilo Roda, 39, of Barangay San Antonio, Casiguran, Sorsogon, hit a crowd of commuters about to board a tricycle at Kilometer post 637 of Maharlika Highway, Barangay Hidhid, Matnog,  around 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, said Senior Inspector Malu Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police in Bicol (PNP 5).

Injured in the accident were Diomedez Madrelejos, 51, brother of Antonio; Emelyn Divana, 35; Emelyn’s sister Catherine Divina, 11, and young brother Kirby, 8 months old; and Lorna Esperas Otario, 42.

The fish truck came from Cardona, Rizal, and was bound for Samar via the Matnog port.

The wounded, all residents of Capul, Northern Samar, sustained serious injuries and were brought to the Matnog Medicare Center for treatment, said Calubaquib.

A bus and a tricycle which had stopped at the roadside of the highway at that time were also damaged, she said.

The truck driver has been arrested by the Matnog police pending the filing of formal charges against him. He would face a case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries and damage to property, she said.

The Matnog police have been investigating the cause of the accident, Calubaquib said.

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