Eight individuals died in two separate road crashes in Matina Pangi, Talomo district yesterday noon and Binugao, Toril district Tuesday afternoon.
At noon yesterday, three construction workers and a driver died on the spot after a Fuso Fighter Dropside Truck hit a post when it lost control along Orange Grove in Matina Pangi.
Major Ronald Lao, the commander of the Talomo Police Station, identified the fatalities as Canet Gaspar Mobe, the driver and construction workers Miel Jay Quillosa; Justin Lumanta, 26; Rolly Balaquiso, 19, both residents of Barangay Mahayag, Bunawan district.
The truck bearing plate number ACN 6036 was registered under the name of Qi Yan Chen, and driven by Mobe, 27, from this city.
According to the investigation of the Talomo police, the truck loaded with assorted construction materials was traveling along the south bound lane of Carlos P Garcia highway coming from the north.
Shortly after passing Orange Grove, it overshot on the curve of the road, hit the Davao Light and Power company post, then rammed on the steel road barrier until it stopped at the right side shoulder portion of the road. The truck’s front tire fell into an open concrete canal.
As a result, Lao said, the driver and the three construction workers sustained grave multiple physical injuries that lead to their immediate death as declared by the attending 911 ambulance medical crew.
The bodies of the four were brought to Villa Funeral Parlor in Toril.
.Tuesday night tragedy
Both the drivers of the Binugao road mishap will be facing a case for multiple homicide and reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries and damage to properties.
Lt. Col. Jed Clamor, the commander of Toril police station, yesterday said the Mindanao Star Bus and a ten-wheeler truck collision resulted to four fatalities.
Clamor identified those who died as Judy Tepacia Mejares, 50; Julita Balaquina Tolin, a government employee; Theresa Flauta, 55, a resident of Midsayap, Cotabato; and, Rodrigo Tolin who died under treatment.
The vehicles were Hino Truck Aluminum Wing Van driven by Nick Barcelona Lopez, 37, from Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat and Mindanao Star Bus driven by Zandro Saiden Abdul Wahab, 37, a resident of Cotabato City.
Initial investigation conducted by the Toril police shows that the truck was traveling from the north, heading south while the bus was coming from the south heading towards the direction of Davao City. Both vehicles were occupying the inner lane of the highway and upon reaching Binugao, the two collided.
Due to the impact, the left side wall of the truck was detached and caused injuries to the bus driver and its passengers, as well as the instant death of a bus passenger.
The wing van, containing softdrinks and mineral water, came from a plant at Bago Aplaya, and was bound to deliver these products.
According to wing van driver Elmer Agbas Gonzales, the utility bus counter flowed to a curve in the highway, which resulted to a head-on collision.
He also said that he tried avoiding the bus, but upon trying, a part of the wing van hit the bus which caused the number of casualties reported.
All injured passengers, including the bus driver, were brought by the responding Central 911 paramedics team to Southern Philippines Medical Center for medical treatment.
Those injured were identified as Jeffrey Abarquez, 29; Theresa Gonzales, 55; Lizel Ramos, 25, Lucrecia Gomez, 74, and her sister Patrocenia, 81, widow; Dorotea Masangay, 81, and; Emediline Masangay, 51.
Speaking in yesterday’s AFP-PNP press briefing held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Capt. Nolan Tagsip, the spokesperson of Davao City Police Office, reiterated that one died on the spot, two were declared dead on arrival and another died while undergoing treatment.
He also said both drivers are now under the custody of Toril police station while they are waiting for the complainant to file a case.
Both vehicles are at the Toril police station for further investigation.
