Laborer dies in truck fall

AN 18-YEAR-OLD truck boy died after he fell from the truck he rode on in barangay Casili, Consolacion town, northern Cebu, last Friday afternoon.

Police identified the fatality as Warlito Sukib of sitio Pulang Bato, barangay Talamban, Cebu City. He worked with a hollow block distributor in Consolacion.

The driver of the truck, Romeo Soriano Jr., 29, of barangay Buot Taup, Cebu City, said they were headed for Consolacion to haul filling materials.

The driver and Sukib were relatives.

Sukib was on top of the truck while eating steamed corn.

Soriano said they were traveling when he hit a pothole.

Sukib lost his balance and fell to the ground headfirst, said Soriano.

Soriano said they waited for paramedics to arrive and did not touch Sukib for fear that it would aggravate his injuries.

Paramedics arrived and brought Sukib to the Eversely Hospital in Mandaue where he was declared dead by attending physicians.

Police said the family of Sukib was convinced that the fall was an accident and did not file charges against Soriano./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA