A passenger truck turned turtle along the highway of Don Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental, and at least one person was killed Saturday, the police said yesterday.

Inspector Ariel Pico, DSB police chief, said a man jumped off the Fuso Fighter truck and was declared dead on arrival at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod. The truck was driven by an unidentified driver who fled after the incident Saturday noon.

DSB mayor, Laurence Marxlen de la Cruz, said he had received reports that about five persons had died in the incident.

Reports said two in critical condition at a hospital and seven more were injured in the crash.

Pico said the truck, that had been hired by vegetable vendors for a trip to San Carlos City, in the province, turned up side down when its driver lost control of the vehicle and allegedly panicked when its brakes failed while negotiating a curve near a commercial resort along the highway.

A male survivor, who had sat beside the driver, told them that had the driver held on to the steering wheel with both hands, he could have controlled the truck, Pico said.*PP

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