ORMOC CITY — A 42-year-old public school teacher was killed in the early hours of Thursday after a heavily loaded truck turned sideways and crushed her subcompact car along the national highway in Barangay Imelda, Baybay City.
Police identified the fatality as alias “Sami,” a resident of Barangay Makinhas, Baybay City. She was driving a Mitsubishi Mirage at the time of the accident. The other vehicle involved was an Isuzu truck loaded with iron scrap and driven by alias “Cardo,” 53, a married company driver from Iligan City.
According to the Baybay City Police Station, the crash occurred at around 2:00 a.m. while the teacher was traveling toward Mahaplag, Leyte. The Isuzu truck, carrying an estimated 18,000 kilograms of assorted metal scrap, was heading toward Baybay City proper when it reached a descending and curved section of the highway.
Initial police investigation showed that the truck encroached into the opposite lane and suddenly turned sideways, pinning the smaller vehicle underneath and trapping its driver inside.
Responding personnel from the Baybay Traffic Enforcement Unit, Baybay Emergency Response Unit, and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) were already conducting rescue operations when police arrived at the scene. The truck driver had been brought to an ambulance for medical treatment.
The teacher was eventually extricated from the wreckage and rushed to the Immaculate Conception Hospital in the city, but she was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.
Further investigation revealed that the truck’s rear tires were excessively worn, while both front tires were also found to be damaged, raising concerns over the vehicle’s roadworthiness. Police said both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were rendered inoperable.
Police said charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide were filed against the truck driver, who is currently recovering from injuries at a hospital whose name was not immediately disclosed.
(ROBERT DEJON)
