Bongo truck rams electric post in Compostela: 25 students, driver hurt

This is the front of the Bongo Truck which the driver rammed into an electric post in Compostela town in northern Cebu — 25 students and the driver were injured in the accident.| Paul Lauro

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A supposed fun beach outing turned into a nightmare for 25 friends, who are junior and high school students in Cebu City, when the Bongo truck they were riding on crashed into an electric post at past 3 a.m. today, May 6, in Barangay Magay, Compostela town in northern Cebu.

The 25 friends were allegedly on their way to a resort in Medellin town in northern Cebu to hold a double celebration — for a friend’s birthday and for some of them who are set to graduate from senior high school.

This was according to some of the victims of the accident, who told CDN Digital the reason for their outing. They also said this while they were waiting for their turn to be treated at the Danao City Hospital.

They said that they rented the truck and the driver for P8,000 to transport them from Cebu City to a resort in Medellin town where they were supposed to hold their outing and celebration.

But the accident changed all that, as they were now spending time to be treated of their injuries at the Danao District Hospital.

CDN Digital noticed that most of the victims, whose ages range from 16 to 20 years old, suffered cuts, bruises on their arms and body while some of them suffered fracture in their arms. Still at least one of the victims had a wound on his head due to the accident.

However at past 10 a.m., some of the injured teenagers left the hospital and went home.

Those who could not walk were carried piggyback by those who only suffered minor injuries.

Driver under hospital arrest

According to Police Captain Kelvin Roy Mamaradlo, acting Compostela Police Station chief, in his report, that the driver would probably face a case of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries and damage to property

Mamaradlo identified the driver as Randy Ocampo, 44, of Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

Ocampo was still being treated at the hospital as of 9 a.m.

The police captain, however said that Ocampo was already under hospital arrest.

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How it happened

Initial police investigation showed that the right front tire of the Bongo truck exploded when they reached Barangay Magay in Compostela town at about 3:30 a.m.

Ocampo told CDN Digital in an interview at the hospital that when the tire blew up, he panicked, and he lost control of the vehicle.

He said that instead of stepping on the brakes, he stepped on the accelerator.

That was what caused the sudden burst of speed when he rammed the electric post.

He said that his only option at that time was to turn the steering wheel to the right and ram an electric post to stop the vehicle.

He also claimed that had he not rammed the electric post, his passengers could have had more serious injuries.

The impact of the crash, however, threw the 23 teenagers at the back of the truck flying and landing on the hard pavement of the road.

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 Magay Brgy Captain

According to Barangay Magay Captain Roberto Doble, that they went immediately to the area when they were informed about it.

He said that he saw several people lying on the street after they were thrown from the back of the Bongo pickup truck.

He said that emergency responders then rushed the victims to the hospital.

Doble also said that the driver managed to get off the vehicle after the crash.

He also said that the most of the victims were students and that they were going to Medellin for an outing, when the accident happened.

Doble also said that one of the victims told him that the driver was allegedly driving too fast and that they had several times asked him to slow down.

However, the victim told Doble that the driver did not heed their request.

Compostela is a coastal town in northern Cebu which is 25 kilometers away from Cebu City.

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