‘Devil truck’ with drunk driver, kid rams vehicles; 9 hurt

By Joana Marie Bayeng and Justina Nadiahan

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A drunk driver, who was with his 8-year-old son, rammed his ‘devil truck’ at several vehicles here along km 4 the Halsema Highway around 10:30 a.m. Thursday that resulted to heavy traffic and wounding of eight persons.

Police said an Isuzu cargo truck with plate number RAH 519 driven by Rogelio Lunggos Saludes, 32, of km.4 Barangay Balili here  came from km.5 headed to Baguio City.

The truck crossed to the opposite lane, sideswiped the left side rear portion of a passenger jeep  with license number AYS 151,  hit the center rope, causing barriers to fall, the smashed the left side front portion of  a Toyota Innova Wagon taxi going towards km.5.

The truck did not stop, instead it moved forward then  sideswiped a Kawasaki motorcycle.

It still did not stop until it collided head on against another passenger jeep with plate number AYC 365.

The truck pushed the jeep southward and finally stopped.

The two jeeps, motorcycle, Innova taxi came from Baguio City were all headed to km.5 when the collisions happened. 

Police identified wounded victims as: Candice Melis Fletcher, Graciano Sangalang De Guzman, Miream Poc-op Katamen, Rhea Oras Camas, Heron Bastian Gayaso, Mariano Jackson Bastian and Oliver Palongias Way-as, driver of the jeep with plate number AYC 365.

Also wounded were Divina Pulano Killia-en, and Gilbert Napiloy Gano.

The victims were rushed to Pines City Doctors Hospital while others were brought to Benguet General Hospital.

All the eight victims were all passengers, including the driver of the jeep (AYC 365).

Some victims were confined at Pines City Doctors Hospital while others were sent home by doctors of Benguet General Hospital after treatment of minor injuries.

Police detained Saludes at the La Trinidad jail while the owner of the Isuzu truck negotiated with involved parties for amicable settlement. 

Charges were being prepared against the Saludes at press time who reportedly had in his possession bottles of gin at the time of the incident.