AKLAN – A massive road accident involving at least ten vehicles turned Barangay Libertad, Nabas, Aklan into a scene of chaos Monday night, October 20, prompting authorities to declare it a mass casualty incident (MCI) and temporarily close a section of the national highway for nearly eight hours.
Initial police and disaster response reports revealed that a wing van truck carrying 300 sacks of refined sugar lost its brakes while descending a slope, slamming into a commuter van and triggering a domino-effect collision that involved several other vehicles and two parked motorcycles. Two of the vehicles reportedly fell into a ravine due to the strong impact.
Video footage captured from a vehicle’s rear camera showed the fast-moving truck swerving into another lane before ramming the van, causing both vehicles to overturn and crash into others coming from the opposite direction.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Nabas immediately declared the situation an MCI due to the number of vehicles and people involved. Six individuals sustained injuries, including the truck driver’s assistant, but no fatalities were reported.
Emergency responders from Nabas, Malay, and Ibajay MDRRMOs, along with the Aklan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and volunteer units, were dispatched for search, rescue, and clearing operations.
The Land Transportation Office Region 6 (LTO-6) has since taken swift administrative action against the truck driver, identified as Arthur Lizardo Arada. LTO-6 director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II issued a show cause order under Section 48 of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, for reckless driving. Arada has five non-extendable days to submit his sworn explanation.
“The amount of cargo you’re carrying requires extra caution. This isn’t a race,” Geduspan reminded motorists, emphasizing the importance of proper vehicle maintenance and adherence to road safety regulations.
Authorities continued to investigate the exact cause of the brake failure and were assessing whether overloading or mechanical issues may have contributed to the crash./PN
