2 killed, I hurt as truck goes down Apayao cliff

CONNER, Apayao – Two people died while another was seriously injured when the truck they were riding suffered from mechanical trouble and plunged into a 30meter deep ravine along the Cagayan-Apayao-Ilocos Norte road, particularly within the descending portion of sitio Gassud, barangay Karikitan, here night of Oct 22.

Senior Supt. Roberto Gallardo, director of the Apayao provincial police office, identified the fatalities as Melrin Dimandal, of legal age, married, Truck Driver and Reynante Mangulad Dalungan, of legal age, married, truck helper both residents of Atulayan Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

He also named the injured individual as Norman Deray Mallilin, 41, married and a resident of Linao East, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

 “Rescuers had difficulty of retrieving the bodies of the fatalities and the survivor because of the depth of the ravine and the absence of sufficient lighting equipment in the accident site,”Gallardo said.

Initial police investigation showed the truck, which was loaded with around 8 tons of citrus fruits, was on its way to Tuguegarao City after coming from this town when the vehicle suddenly lost its brakes while traversing a descending portion of the road prompting the driver to reportedly lose control of the vehicle that plunged into the ravine.

Gallardo said the victims were immediately rushed by rescuers to the Conner district hospital but the two fatalities were declared dead on arrival while injured individuals are still recuperating from injuries.

Probers ruled the cause of the accident was mechanical trouble considering the information gathered from the survivor.

The police official appealed to motorists to make sure that their vehicles are in good running condition and that their drivers are healthy before making long travels in the different parts of the region. -- Dexter A. See