6 die, 4 hurt in Tuba, Benguet road crash

GRIM ACCIDENT. These trucks collided dawn of June 8 at Bontiwey, Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet. Six persons were killed and four others injured in the accident. (Photo courtesy of Col. Elmer Ragay)

By Dionisio Dennis, Jr. and Liza Agoot  

TUBA, Benguet -- – Six persons died while four others were injured in a vehicular accident involving three trucks at dawn here on Monday.

Col. Elmer Ragay, Benguet Provincial Police director, said four of the victims died on the spot.

He identified them as Belly Joe Lachica Collantes, 29, married, waste collection volunteer; Raymart Dela Rama Lachica, waste collection volunteer; John Rex Hilario, GSO employee, of Kias, Baguio City; and Jonathan Frigillana Vargas, driver of the trailer truck and resident of Aringay, La Union.

The two others who died at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) were Mark Alvin Dela Rama Collantes, GSO employee and driver of the garbage truck; and Rustom Lachica dela Rama, waste collection volunteer.

Those injured and taken to BGHMC were waste collection volunteers Romeo Dela Raga Collantes, 21; Ernesto Lachica Collantes, 27; and Philip Lachica dela Rosa, 28, all of Irisan; and Merson Aoay Manalastas, 42, of La Trinidad, the driver of the dump truck.

Based on the investigation by Tuba police, the garbage truck (SKR 634) owned by the Baguio City government lost its brakes and bumped into a lowland-bound dump truck (NFZ 7477), then rammed into a concrete barrier at Sitio Bontiwey, Poblacion in Tuba.

The dump truck then crossed the Baguio-bound lane and hit a trailer truck (RHK 439).

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city government would provide aid to the victims. 

Reports said the garbage truck owned by the city government of Baguio was travelling along a downhill portion of the highway when its driver Collantes, lost control of the wheel.

The truck’s rear hit another truck driven by Manalastas, according to Ragay. Manalastas lost control of the wheel, causing his vehicle to hit a trailer truck driven by Vargas.

The dump truck continued its descent and hit a concrete barrier before it rolled on its side, Ragay said.