MAKILALA, North Cotabato – Police have launched a manhunt against a truck driver whose vehicle plowed to death four motorists along the section of the Davao-Cotabato highway here Thursday.
Sr. Supt. Jonathan Tangonan, North Cotabato police director, has ordered all police chiefs of North Cotabato’s 17 towns to help locate the truck driver who fled following the incident.
Shortly before noon, the wayward 10-wheeler cargo truck plowed three motorcycles along the national highway in Barangay Patulangon here killing four motorists on the spot, including a woman.
Melvin Fortajada, chair of Barangay Patulangon, said four people on three motorcycles were killed on the spot after the truck rolled over them. The woman’s body was cut in half and sprawled on the roadside.
“The victims were unaware of the wayward truck before it hit them,” Fortajada said, adding that the truck and the three motorbikes were moving in the same direction.
The fatalities were identified as Edgar Pajal, 44; Juanito Duhilag, 37; Viverlen Aguanan, 16; and Stephen Paredes, 33, all local residents.
The driver, before fleeing, told responding civilians his brake system malfunctioned and he lost control of the truck.
Fortajada said the name of truck driver had been forwarded to the police while the truck owner has been officially informed. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
