MARAMAG, Bukidnon – Six students from Davao Oriental were injured, one of them critically, after they fell from the back of a moving Isuzu Elf truck they had hitchhiked in Barangay Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon on the night of Wednesday, July 15.
The accident happened shortly after 8:00 p.m. along the national highway near the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Musuan area.
According to the Maramag Municipal Police Station’s initial investigation, the Isuzu Elf truck, driven by a 27-year-old man from Valencia City, was carrying an estimated 55 students who had reportedly hitched a ride from the Dairy Area of the Central Mindanao University (CMU) campus toward the university’s main gate.
Police said the students were riding in the open cargo bed of the truck when the vehicle reached a curved section of the road near the DPWH Musuan office. Investigators said the locking mechanism of the truck’s right-side panel reportedly malfunctioned, causing the side railing to suddenly swing open.
As several students were leaning against the side of the vehicle, six of them—two males and four females—were thrown onto the concrete pavement.
Emergency responders immediately rushed to the scene and transported the injured students to the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag for medical treatment. Authorities later transferred three of the victims to a private hospital in Don Carlos for further medical care.
The driver and the Isuzu Elf truck are now under the custody of the Maramag Police while authorities continue their investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident and whether criminal or administrative charges may be filed.
One student remains in critical condition
Following the accident, Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) President Dr. Roy Ponce assured the public that the university is extending full assistance to the affected students and their families.
In an official statement, Ponce said the university immediately coordinated with the parents of the injured students and arranged for their travel to Bukidnon.
“DORSU is now facilitating parents of hospitalized students to go to Bukidnon today. I will personally go this morning ahead to assess condition. The program head is already there last night,” Ponce said.
He added that based on the latest update, three students have already been discharged, four remain under medical observation, while one student is in critical condition.
Ponce also assured that the university would shoulder all necessary and allowable expenses related to the students’ hospitalization.
“DORSU will cover all the necessary and allowable expenses. Rest assured we are on top of this difficult situation. Uphold us in your prayers. God bless everyone,” he said.
Authorities reiterate safety reminder
The incident has once again raised concerns over students hitching rides on open-type cargo vehicles, a practice that exposes passengers to serious risks, especially when the vehicles are not designed for public transport.
Police reminded motorists and educational institutions to prioritize student safety and discourage the use of open cargo trucks for transporting passengers to prevent similar accidents.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the condition of the truck and whether safety regulations governing the transport of passengers were violated.