14 Hurt as Military Truck Loses Brakes, Hits 5 Vehicles in Sulu

Fourteen people were injured when a crane truck belonging to the military lost its brakes and rammed into five vehicles in Indanan, Sulu on Friday. The incident, which occurred at around 1:35 p.m. along Km. 2 in Barangay Kajatian, caused damage to two Tamaraw jeepneys and three electronic tricycles or e-trikes. Investigation showed the truck of the Army’s 545th Engineering Brigade was headed to the base when it developed mechanical trouble, causing the driver to lose control of the wheel. Probers said the truck rammed the jeepneys and the e-trikes before crashing into a house along the roadside. Among those injured were the drivers of the five vehicles and their passengers. Responding members of the municipal disaster, risk reduction and management office rushed the victims to the Sulu Provincial Hospital for treatment of injuries. The driver of the truck, who is a member of the 545th Engineering Brigade, was taken to the police station for questioning. This incident underscores the importance of regular maintenance and safety checks for all vehicles, including those used by the military, especially when operating in civilian areas. While Sulu province faces its own security challenges, this accident appears to be a case of mechanical failure. However, the presence of military vehicles in such close proximity to civilian traffic necessitates stringent safety protocols to prevent similar occurrences.