4 family members killed after truck filled with sugar cane falls on car

Four members of a family died after a truck filled with sugar cane hit the vehicle while traversing the national highway Bago City, Negros Occidental. PHOTO BY ANN SORILLA

Four members of a family died after a 10-wheeler sugarcane truck fell on their car along the national highway in Barangay Atipuluan in Bago City, Negros Occidental Thursday afternoon.

Killed were 59-year-old Romulo Espinosa, who was driving the car, and wife Josephine, 53, both of La Carlota City.

Their daughter Christine Sarcia, 31, and grandson Vincent John, 4, both of Bacolod City also died.

Initial investigation of Bago City Police Station showed that the victims were on their way home when they figured in the accident.

An approaching truck from the opposite lane swerved in the middle of the road after its driver Herman Mahometano, 58, lost control of the vehicle.

The witnesses of the accident try to help the victims of the vehicular accident along the national highway in Bago City, Negro Occidental. PHOTO BY ANN SORILLA

The truck, loaded with sugar cane, then fell on its side and onto the victims' car, which was totally wrecked due to the impact.

Senior Insp. Hercules Trigue, deputy chief for administration of Bago City Police Station, said it took at least 30 minutes for rescuers to retrieve the victims from the car and that they had to use a crane.

Trigue said the victims were brought to a hospital, where they were declared dead.

The truck driver, who was unharmed, surrendered to the police, he added.

Mahometano is detained at the station and may face charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide. — BAP, GMA News