4 hurt as 12-wheeler truck falls into river following bridge collapse in Laguna

Four people on board a 12-wheeler truck were injured after their vehicle fell into the river following the collapse of a bridge in Majayjay, Laguna on Saturday.

The accident occurred in Barangay San Isidro, according to a report by Luisito Santos on Super Radyo dzBB.

Laguna Provincial Police Office director Police Colonel Rogart Campo said the 12-wheeler truck came from Bacolor, Pampanga and was transporting sand to the town proper via the Provincial Road when the steel bridge collapsed.

The truck fell 80 feet into the river below.

Authorities said the bridge may have collapsed due to the heavy cargo of the 12-wheeler truck.

"Itong tulay ay one-way lamang at 5 tons lamang ang capacity... May mga truck na dumadaan na lagpas 5 tons... Itong truck na naaksidente ay 12 tons na po at may dala pa itong buhangin," Majayjay, Laguna Police chief Police Captain Ruffy Taduyo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(The bridge is one-way and has a 5-ton capacity. Some trucks weighing more than 5 tons pass. This truck that figured in an accident weighs 12 tons and it had sand as cargo.)

"Maaaring masampahan ng kasong reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property ang driver dahil dumaan siya sa tulay kahit sobrang bigat ng dala ng truck," he added.

(The driver may face charges of reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property because he drove the truck onto the bridge even if the vehicle was carrying a very heavy load.)

The injured were already brought to the hospital for treatment. Taduyo said they had minor injuries.

Meanwhile, the portion of the affected road has been closed to traffic and motorists were advised to take alternate routes.

"Dahil sa pagbigay ng tulay, maaaring dumaan sa bayan ng Liliw... madaragdagan ang travel time," Taduyo said.

(Due to the bridge collapse, motorists may go through Liliw. Travel time may take longer.) —KG, GMA News