Truck Accident in Tigbao Town Causes Tragedy
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — A tragic truck accident in Tigbao town claimed three lives on Monday afternoon. The truck, carrying a heavy roller-compactor, plunged into a ravine along the national highway in Barangay Maragang.
Col. Bonifacio Arañas Jr., the local police director, reported that the incident happened around 3:30 p.m. The truck was heading to Bayog town when the driver, Jonnel Gumapac, lost control while going down a slope. This caused the vehicle to veer off the road and fall into the ravine.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
Rescuers from the Tigbao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and local police rushed to the scene. They faced difficulties extracting victims trapped beneath the heavy roller-compactor stuck inside the truck.
SFO3 O’Brian Pranza, the fire marshal leading the rescue, shared that the operation extended late into the night and resumed early Tuesday morning. They used a backhoe to retrieve the remaining bodies from the wreckage.
Victims and Survivors Identified
Three men died in the accident: the driver, Jonnel Gumapac; Nonie Mandas, found dead on site; and another passenger known only as Tata Nelmida from Tabina town. Two survivors, Jomar Jumuad of Pagadian City and Mark James Baliaso from San Pablo town, sustained injuries and were immediately taken to the Tigbao Rural Health Center for treatment.
Mandas’ common-law wife, Wincel Baldicantos, who is six months pregnant, traveled from Dumingag town to Pagadian City upon hearing the news. She was accompanied by their eldest child. Baldicantos said, “Partner nako construction worker siya, kada semana mouli sa Dumingag.”
Community Mourns Loss After Truck Accident
Local leaders and residents expressed their condolences as the community mourns the loss of the three men. Authorities continue to investigate the exact cause of the accident and remind drivers to exercise caution on steep routes.
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