Five people were confirmed dead and seven others critically injured after a mini dump truck owned by the Silay City Government overturned in Sitio San Juan, Barangay Guimbalaon, Silay City.
According to initial investigations by the Silay City Police Station, the accident resulted in five fatalities, seven individuals in critical condition, and 13 others sustaining minor injuries.
The vehicle was carrying 24 Job Order casual employees of the city government, who had just completed a tree planting activity in Sitio Patag.
In a Bombo Radyo Bacolod interview, Lina Andrade, a Job Order casual and wife of one of the injured, revealed that the truck had been malfunctioning during the uphill journey that morning.
She said the vehicle kept stalling, prompting some passengers to jump off, although they eventually reboarded after reaching the top.
According to her account, the dump truck headed back first, while others remained at the tree planting site when they were informed of the crash.
She expressed great shock, knowing that her husband, Aaron Andrade—a city street cleaner—was on board the ill-fated truck.
Lina said she was thankful her husband only sustained minor injuries.
She added that in hindsight, she wished he hadn’t reboarded the truck, as it had shown mechanical issues early on.