Ten persons, including a mother and her three-year-old son, were killed after a delivery truck lost brake control and crashed in a busy street in Barangay Matina Pangi, Talomo District at 9:30 a.m. yesterday.
The truck driver, identified as Joel Sinampay Aras, 36, married, of Camananan, Cagayan de Oro City, is already under police custody.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Col. Alexander Tagum said Aras was driving a 10-wheeler wing van, with plate number LXB 302, loaded with 500 sacks of rice. Coming from the port area of Barangay Sasa, Buhangin District, the van was bound to Calinan District via C.P. Garcia Highway (Diversion Road).
Upon reaching the Phoenix Gas Station along Diversion Road, the driver reportedly lost control on the brake.
The truck reportedly ran at full speed for about a kilometer in a descending direction. Upon reaching the Diversion Road-Matina Pangi Road intersection, the driver manuevered the truck to Matina Pangi Road, going to Barangay Matina Crossing.
The truck then hit several vehicles and houses before ramming into a store and jammed the two-lane busy street in Km. 5., Guadalupe, Matina Pangi.
At least eight four-wheel vehicles were severely damaged.
Damaged vehicles were Toyota High Ace Van (BCN661); KIA Sportage (KEP 343)
Honda CRV (LGE978); Mitsubishi L300 (AAG 4913); Avanza (ZSE 506), Susuki AVP (PPI830); Multicab (JFG233) and TMX with sidecar (5013LV). Several trisikad units were also damaged.
Tagum said the crash resulted to the death of 10 persons – two women and eight males, including a three-year-old kid. Another one is presently in critical condition at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
The fatalities were identified as Emily Dionela Viernes, 36, and her three-year-old son Rabbi Kylle of Km. 6, Matina Pangi; Jhonnyvee Congcong Ustan, 32, married, tricycle driver, of Km. 6, Matina Pangi; Renato Congcong Lozada, 54, trisikad driver, of Km. 6, Matina Pangi; Danny San Luis, 62, the driver of Avanza; Jose Sayman Manaytay, 22, an employee of KSMG Hardware, of Banganga, Davao Oriental; Vicente Cedeno of Barangay Lamanan; and Sister Carmen Remoroza Saniel, Virjiher Cabalo Sangco and Hernie Bastatas, all of Revier Retreat House in Ulas, Barangay Talomo Proper.
Cedeno was driving the L300 van that was transporting nuns and workers of Revier Retreat House. Among those inside the vehicle were the 62-year-old Sister Carmen and teen workers Sangco and Bastatas, both working students of St. Peter College of Torill.
According to witness Janele Senador, a resident of Km. 5, the truck was running fast and hit a trisikad. The trisikad driver, together with his two passengers, the mother and her child, were among the fatalities.
Driver Sinampay asked for apology.
He will be charged for reckless Imprudence resulting to multiple homicide, serious physical injury and damage to property.
Mayor Sara Duterte said the city will assist the victims, particularly in the burial assistance.
The mayor said she also ordered to put warning signs in the particular portion of the Diversion Road, considered as an accident-prone.
By Rhoda Grace B. Saron and James Steven V. Batucan
