Truck kills elderly woman, destroys house

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An elderly woman died after a trailer truck hit her house along the national highway of Barangay Anahaw, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental early Monday.

Gaudencia Mapa, 90, of the said village, died on the spot, police reports indicated.

Police Major James Latayon, town police chief, said Dionesio Joyohoy, 58, of Candoni town, parked the truck on the roadside around 3:20 a.m. Monday to check the rear part of the vehicle.

But when he disembarked from the truck, the vehicle lurched towards the right portion of the road and hit the victim’s house, the police chief added.

Mapa was alone in her home when the accident occurred. She died on the spot.

“Hindi kasi kumagat iyong brakes at pababa iyong daan kaya dumeretso iyong truck sa bahay,” Latayon said.

He said they cannot ascertain if human error or engine trouble caused the accident.

Joyohoy is detained at the police station waiting for the decision of the victim’s family if they will file charges or not.

He will be released after the 36-hour reglementary detention if no charges will be filed.