At least six workers were killed and more than 12 others injured after a pickup truck and a mini dump truck collided, sending the latter into a ravine in the mountainous area of Barangay Bolo, Labrador, Pangasinan on Tuesday evening.
Accident Details
According to a report from the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, the incident occurred around 6:15 PM on a mountain trail road in the said barangay. Police Captain John Ramos, chief of the Labrador Municipal Police Station, said five of the victims were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
The fatalities include two residents of Barangay Bolo, Labrador, aged 39 and 36, while other victims were aged 47, 36, and 25. The sixth victim succumbed to injuries on Wednesday morning while being treated in the hospital.
Victims Were Workers
Based on the investigation, the victims were all workers of a solar farm construction company and were riding the mini dump truck when the accident occurred. Responders from the Labrador Police and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) immediately rescued the injured and retrieved them from the ravine before bringing them to hospitals.
Initial police investigation showed that a Nissan Navara pickup truck carrying employees of China Communication Services Philippines Corporation and a Sinotruk mini dump truck carrying workers of Human Construction Engineering Group were traveling along the mountain trail road. An estimated 40 people were aboard the two vehicles.
Cause of the Crash
The investigation revealed that the driver of the mini dump truck lost control while navigating a steep curve after the vehicle's brakes allegedly failed. As a result, the truck hit the left side of the pickup truck before falling into a ravine on the roadside.
The driver of the pickup truck did not sustain serious injuries but was subjected to a medical examination as part of the investigation.
