WAYWARD TRUCK. A policeman guards the dump truck that turned on its side after hitting motorcycle riders on Friday afternoon (July 15, 2022) in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. Killed in the accident was Lt. Col. Ruben Verbo Jr., the police chief of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, while Col. Germano Mallari, the provincial police director of Negros Oriental, and three others sustained injuries. (Photo courtesy of the San Carlos City Police Station)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The police chief of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental was killed while four others, including the provincial police director, were hurt when a truck that lost its break plowed into their group of motorcycle riders along the national highway in Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Friday afternoon.
A report from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) on Friday evening confirmed the death of Lt. Col. Ruben Verbo, Jr., 44, of Barangay San Jose, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, who was just assigned to Guihulngan City two days before the accident.
Verbo was declared dead on arrival in a hospital in San Carlos City.
Col. Germano Mallari, the provincial police director of Negros Oriental, sustained minor injuries, together with three others who were in their group of motorcycle riders.
Mallari, in a text to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), said he was fine but busy at the hospital attending to the deceased police chief and the others who were slightly injured.
Initial investigation showed Mallari and his group were riding their motorcycles around 4 p.m. Friday at Sitio Buli, Ecotourism National Highway in Barangay Rizal when a Fuso dump truck, bearing plate number RNK 386, and loaded with gravel, hit the motorcycles while descending the road.
The dump truck reportedly suffered a brake malfunction, which caused it to run wayward, hitting the motorcycles traveling in the opposite direction before it turned on its side.
Aside from Mallari, the others injured were identified as Richie Dayday, the back rider of Verbo; Edwardo Aceñas, 38, of Barangay Junob, Dumaguete City; and Trifon Paltingca, 42, of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.
The driver, identified as Wendy Boy Nagor, 24, a resident of Barangay Kumaliskis, Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental, is now under the custody of the San Carlos City police. (PNA)
