A truck helper was injured after a dump truck loaded with sand fell into a river in Talisay City, southern Cebu early yesterday morning.
Leonardo Villarin, 35, jumped off the truck when the vehicle started rolling backwards in barangay Lagtang.
The driver, Dennis Ebonalo, was negotiating an uphill portion of the road when he lost control of the wheel, said PO1 Rosauro Pasumala of the Talisay City Traffic Police said
The truck moved backward and fell into the river.
Villarin was treated at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.
The truck was pulled out of the river by a backhoe at around 11 a.m., said Willie Abatayo, supervisor of QM Builders Construction. The contractor is undertaking a government road-widening project in the area.
“This one-lane road where the dump truck passed is a detour since the main road is undergoing road widening,” Abatayo told reporters.
Road signs warning motorists to slow down and observe the designated speed limit were installed in the area.
The area where the incident happened was dimly-lit.
Talisay City councilor Danny Caballero inspected the area.
He said he would ask the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to install railings along the one-lane road.
“I would also like to remind truck owners and motorists to manage well their truck loads. Be responsible when driving and follow the signs,” Cabellero said.