5 killed as truck falls down ravine

KAYAPA, Nueva Vizcaya– Five people on board a dump truck reportedly loaded with undocumented minerals were killed after the vehicle plunged into a ravine here while on its way to Benguet early morning March 16.

Police identified four of the victims as Paula Agustin, 59; George Sumera, 28; Melanio Agayan, 39 and Richard Paguio, 37, all residents of Quirino province.

Senior Insp. Jeoffrey Bulong, Kayapa police chief, said the truck loaded with tons of newly extracted ore fell off a cliff in Castillo village in Kayapa.

“The five all died on the spot,” he said.

Reports said authorities were trying to flag down the truck in Aritao town, but the driver ignored this and proceeded instead toward Kayapa, traversing the mountain highway linking this province and Benguet. – Charlie Lagasca