TUBA, Benguet June 08 – Six people died while four others were injured when a Baguio City-owned garbage truck lost its brakes and bumped a lowland-bound dump truck before ramming into a concrete barrier and rested on its side long the Palispis-Aspiras Highway, particularly at sitio Bontiwey, Poblacion, here, around 4 am Monday.
The fatalities were identified as Mark Alvin B. Collantes, driver of the ill-fated garbage truck, his helper John Rex P Hilario and volunteers Bill Joe Collantes, Rustom dela Rama, Reymark dela Rama, all of the City General Services Office, and Jonathan Frigillana Vargas, driver of the Baguio-bound trailer truck that was also bumped in the said incident.
On the other hand, the injured individuals were named as Romeo Collantes, Jr., 21, married, Ernesto Collantes, Jr., 27, married, Phillip dela Rosa, 28, married and Marson Aoay Manalastas, 42, married who hails from Buyagan, Poblacion, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Police investigation showed that the lowland-bound city garbage truck with license plate number SKR-634 driven by Mark Collatnes allegedly lost its brakes while descending the road and bumped the rear portion of a dump truck with license plate number NFZ-7477 driven by Manalastas.
Because of the heavy impact of the collision, the said dump truck rammed into the front potion of a trailer truck with license plate number RHK-439 driven by Vargas that was traversing the opposite lane bound for Baguio City.
The city’s garbage truck continue to move forward and bumped the concrete barrier at the right side of the road then turned sideways and rested on it side.
Responding personnel of the Tuba Municipal Police Station and emergency responders immediately rushed the injured individuals to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) for medical treatment.
However, 4 of the fatalities died on the spot while two of them died while undergoing medical treatment at the BGHMC.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong and City General Services officer Eugene Buyucan personally visited the accident site to assess the situation for their further needed action.