ORMOC CITY — A construction worker was killed while 13 others sustained injuries after a dump truck carrying them crashed into a drainage canal in Barangay Calaguise, Leyte, Leyte, on Thursday morning, July 10.
The incident occurred around 7:50 a.m. and involved a blue Isuzu dump truck owned by WILBAR Sand and Gravel. The truck was driven by a certain “Ricky,” 44, a resident of Barangay Balucanad, Capoocan, Leyte.
Initial reports from the Leyte Municipal Police Station indicate that the vehicle was en route from Capoocan to Brgy. Calaguise when the truck’s brake system reportedly malfunctioned, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a drainage canal.
On board were 14 passengers, mostly construction workers and laborers, identified only by aliases for initial reporting purposes: “Vic,” 21, construction worker; “Vic-vic,” 57, steelman; “Chard,” 44, construction worker;“Nory,” 21; “Sinoy,” 59; “Rey,” legal age, laborer; “Jonny,” legal age, laborer; “Jojo,” 25, laborer;“Rommy,” 39, laborer; “Dante,” 31, laborer; “Franco,” 42, welder; Another “Rey,” legal age; “Ray,” legal age; and “Oliver,” 38, construction worker.
All passengers and the driver are residents of Capoocan, Leyte.
Emergency responders immediately brought the victims to the Leyte Municipal Rural Health Unit, with most of them later transferred to OSPA-Farmer’s Medical Center (OSPA-FMC) in Ormoc City for further treatment.
“Oliver,” 38, was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.
Authorities are still conducting a thorough investigation to determine the full circumstances behind the mechanical failure and whether proper safety protocols were followed.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
