By CESAR JOLITO III

A 36-year-old roadside vendor and her 19-year-old male helper were killed after a fuel tanker truck plowed into their food cart along the national highway at Barangay Palaka in Negros Occidental’s Valladolid town on Sunday afternoon, July 5.

Police said the vendor was declared dead on arrival at the Valladolid District Hospital, while the helper succumbed to injuries around 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.

They are both residents of Barangay Poblacion’s Purok Sampaguita in the town.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old female helper sustained injuries and was rushed to the same hospital for treatment.

Valladolid police said a fuel tanker truck, owned by PRO Logistics Solutions Phil. Inc., was traveling northbound from Valladolid town proper toward Bago City at 4:15 p.m.

The 57-year-old truck driver, a resident of Bacolod City’s Barangay Handumanan, allegedly fell asleep while driving, causing him to lose control of the vehicle before it veered toward the roadside and struck the food vendors.

The truck driver is currently under police custody.

Authorities prepare the appropriate charges and continue their investigation into the incident./CCJ, WDJ