At least 3 killed, 20 hurt as truck falls off Davao ravine

TAGUM CITY – At least three people were killed and more than 20 others injured when a truck packed with people fell off a ravine in Caraga, Davao Oriental on Good Friday, authorities said on Saturday.

The accident happened at the side of the national highway in Santiago village around 6:15 a.m. as employees of a Tagum City-based company were on their way to Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel town onboard an Isuzu Elf truck, according to Chief Insp. Andrea dela Cerna, Southern Mindanao police regional spokesperson.

Initial investigation revealed that the white truck (LGG-957), driven by James Antolin, was heading to Cateel from Tagum City with about 25 people onboard, Dela Cerna said.

While negotiating a curved portion of the road, the truck’s brakes apparently malfunctioned, causing it to veer off the highway and plunge into a five foot-deep ravine, Jesusa Timbang, Davao Oriental
provincial disaster officer said.

Three people were instantly killed while 22 others suffered injuries and were rushed to the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital-Manay for treatment, authorities said.

Timbang said 20 of the injured were transported by ambulances from the provincial government and local governments of Manay and Caraga to the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) here for further treatment.

Investigation into the accident was now underway, officials said. CDG

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