By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – A 22-year-old man died after the trailer truck he was riding fell off a 20-foot cliff in Barangay Fabrica, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, last Monday.
Police Lt. Col. Alvimar Flores, Sagay City police chief, identified the victim as Jhon Vincent Montemor of Cebu City.
According to the investigation, the truck, loaded with assorted pasalubong products, was en route to Bacolod from Cebu around 10:30 a.m. when it malfunctioned due to its heavy load while ascending.
This caused the truck to roll backward, overturn, and fall off the cliff, Flores said.
The 47-year-old truck driver managed to jump out of the vehicle, but his companion was trapped in the front seat. Rescuers worked for almost five hours to retrieve the victim’s body from under the truck.
Flores noted that Montemor had only started working as a helper about a week before the incident. His remains will be transported back to Cebu.
The truck driver was released after the lapse of his reglementary detention. Flores added that the victim’s family has yet to decide whether to file charges.