1 killed, 7 wounded by wayward cargo truck in Cebu

CEBU CITY—A woman, who just attended Mass, was killed while seven others were wounded on Thursday morning when a 10-wheeler truck plowed into a roadside eatery in Toledo City, about 50 km west of here.

Elena Bilano Baringuian, 57, and a resident of Toledo, was waiting for a public utility jeepney at Sitio Tambis, Sitio Poog, about 6:50 a.m. when she was hit by the cargo truck before it rammed into an eatery made of light materials.

Baringuian, who was heading home after attending a 6 a.m. Mass, died on the spot, said PO1 Michael Vincent Balicoco, Toledo police desk officer.

The truck (RDS 806), owned by Federal North Hardware based in Cebu City, was loaded with construction materials from Cebu City that were supposed to be delivered in Toledo.

But Balicoco said truck driver Gerwin Bayutas, 25, was maneuvering a downhill slope when the brakes malfunctioned.

The truck swerved to the right side of the road, hitting Baringuian before plowing into the eatery owned by Lauron family.

Wounded were Demetrio Alcontin Lauron, 56, who owned the eatery; Patrick Salde Lauron, 25; Maria Rose Safra Decena, 43, and Victor Matunhay, 56.

They were brought to Carmen Copper Corp. Hospital in Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City.

Bayutas and his two companions—Jason Aguanta, 23, of Sogod and Donque Bermijo, 22, of Danao City—were in critical condition due to injuries in the head.

The three were brought to a hospital in Cebu City.