Authorities probe driver's liability in Silay City truck crash that killed seven

• A mini truck carrying tree-planting participants overturned in Barangay Guimbalaon, Silay City, killing seven people and injuring ten others
• Authorities are investigating whether the crash was due to mechanical failure or human error by driver Hernane Masa
• Police said a case of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple h&micide and physical injuries may be filed if negligence is proven
• Some relatives of the victims have reportedly decided not to press charges against the driver

Authorities are investigating the liability of a mini truck driver involved in a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of seven individuals last Friday in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

According to a report by Adrian Prietos on GMA Regional TV News on Tuesday, the accident occurred in Barangay Guimbalaon when the mini truck, which was carrying passengers who had just participated in a tree-planting activity, overturned.

“Ang nilalakad namin na makakuha kami ng expert mechanic na kung meron talagang mechanical error sa sasakyan or just human error or bad judgment sa ating driver,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, chief of the Silay City Police Station.

In addition to the seven fatalities, ten other passengers sustained injuries and are currently recovering in the hospital, including the truck driver, identified as Hernane Masa.

Should the investigation confirm negligence on Masa’s part, authorities will file a case of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple h&micide and physical injuries against him.

However, the police noted that some of the victims' relatives have expressed they no longer intend to pursue legal action against the driver.

The tragic incident has prompted renewed discussions on road safety, particularly in transporting participants to and from community activities in remote areas.

As the investigation continues, authorities are emphasizing the need to determine whether the crash was due to a mechanical failure or human error.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, an 80-year-old bedridden man and his 81-year-old wife perished in an early morning house fire in Bacolod City on June 30, 2025, with damage estimated at P3 million. The wife, Emelyn, reportedly tried to retrieve a fire extinguisher and turn back for her bedridden husband, Edison, before succumbing to the blaze, as indicated by her body's position and neighbor's CCTV footage. The couple was tragically alone in their home when the fire broke out, as their usual nighttime companion had an unexpected allergy attack, and Emelyn did not inform her children. Authorities are emphasizing the crucial need for families to have detailed emergency plans and ensure that bedridden and elderly individuals are never left unsupervised, especially at night, to prevent similar tragedies.

Still other news, a man in Taguig City was arrested for pretending to be a police officer and threatening a woman he owed ₱20,000. The suspect wore a police jacket and carried a radio but failed to present any PNP ID when questioned. Authorities found an unlicensed handgun and a sachet of suspected shabu near his residence. He faces charges of usurpation of authority, illegal possession of firearms, and possession of dangerous dr&gs.

Source: KAMI.com.gh