9 killed in Bayawan, Negros Oriental dump truck crash — police

Nine workers from the local government unit of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental were killed after the dump truck they were riding in plunged into a ravine, provincial police said Wednesday.

Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office director Police Colonel Timmar Alam said the LGU-operated dump truck was on its way back to the city proper when it overshot the road and fell into a ravine in a mountainous area of Purok 4, Barangay Kalamtukan.

“Pagkagaling po ng isang dump truck operated by the LGU ng Bayawan City, pabalik na sana sila ng city proper. Pagdating sa Purok 4, Barangay Kalamtukan, isang mountainous area ng Bayawan City, nag-overshoot po at nahulog sa bangin,” Alam told reporters.

(The LGU-operated dump truck was on its way back to the city proper. Upon reaching Purok 4, Barangay Kalamtukan, a mountainous area of Bayawan City, it overshot the road and fell into a ravine.)

The vehicle was carrying five containers of crude oil and electrical supplies at the time of the incident.

Based on the initial investigation, human error may have caused the accident, Alam said.

Bayawan City Police Station chief Lieutenant Colonel Joeson Parallag said the crash occurred around 11 a.m. and was reported to authorities minutes later.

Responders rushed the victims to a hospital, but all were declared dead on arrival.

Parallag added that the victims were personnel of the City Agriculture Office who were distributing crude oil for heavy equipment that were operating in highland areas.—MCG, GMA Integrated News