6 Dead, 4 Hurt In 3-truck smash-up along Marcos Highway in Benguet

June 8, 2020 JUST IN

Tuba, Benguet (June 8, 2020) –  Six died that included 3 garbage collectors and a garbage truck driver of the Baguio City government and four more were hurt in a 3-truck smash up along Marcos Highway in sitio Bontiwey, barangay Poblacion here 4 o’clock dawn Monday.
Benguet police director Col. Elmer Ragay said, a garbage truck of the local government of Baguio City with plate number SKR 634 was downhill along the highway when its driver Mark Collantes lost control of the 6-wheeler truck and smashed the rear of another downhill dump truck with plate number NFZ 7477 driven by Merson Aoay Manalastas.
Due to the strong impact, the dump truck smashed into an uphill trailer truck with plate number RHK 439, driven Jonathan Frigillana Vargas on the opposite direction.
The dump truck continued its descend hitting a concrete barrier, then fell on its side.
Immediately, Belly Joe Lachica Collantes, 29; and Raymart Dela Rama Lachica, both garbage collection employees of the Baguio General Services Office (GSO) and residents of Irisan, Baguio City;  John Rex Hilario, another garbage collection employee from Kias, Baguio City; and the uphill trailer truck driver Vargas from Aringay, La Union died on the spot.
While  garbage collector Rustom Lachica Dela Rama and garbage truck driver Collantes, also both residents of Irisan, died at the hospital.
Garbage collectors Romeo Dela Raga Collantes, 21; Ernesto Lachica Collantes, 27; Philip Lachica Dela Rosa, 28; all from Irisan in Baguio City; and dumpt truck driver Merson Aoay Manalastas, 42 from AE 13 D, barangay Buyagan, La Trinidad, Benguet are being treated at the Baguio General Hospital.
Ragay said the four victims who died on the spot were brought to Damayan Funeral Homes while the two who died at the hospital are at the morgue.
Artemio Dumlao