Truck falls off cliff; 3 dead, 17 hurt

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A truck fell into a cliff at Barangay Codcod, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental last Friday, resulting in the death of three women and injuries to 17 others.

Police Master Sergeant Junniever Zapanta, traffic investigator of San Carlos City Police Station, identified the fatalities as Jenalyn Crapiano, 40; and her relatives – Maricel Lobrido, 40; and Haydie Lobrido, 53.

Zapanta said the accident happened when the truck driven by 31-year-old Rolando Amaca had a mechanical failure while it was traversing the curved road.

The traffic investigator said that the truck driver tried to control the vehicle but it was already speeding which prompted him to swerve it to a tree, but it fell off a 50-feet deep cliff.

Rescue operation lasted for more than an hour because the area was too far and it is located at the upper part of the village.

The three fatalities who sustained head injuries were sitting at the back of the vehicle.

Zapanta said six other passengers, including the three minors aged 9, 12, and 15 are still confined at a hospital.

Two of them were transferred to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital here because of serious injuries while others were already discharged due to minor injuries.

The family and some of their relatives were on their way home after coming from the neighboring town of Calatrava to witness the marriage proposal of one of their family members, when the accident happened, Zapanta said.

Meanwhile, Zapanta said Amaca was released from police custody around 12 noon Saturday, after the lapse of the 18-hour reglementary detention period.