Seven people died and 14 passengers were injured when the truck they were riding malfunctioned, veered off the road and plunged into a 50-meter deep ravine in a remote sitio in Barangay Amdus in Ayungon town, Negros Oriental, Friday.

Supt. Alet Virtucio, officer in charge of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, identified the fatalities as Jocelyn Piro, Reynaldo Banacia, Judity Abrio and Jorita Padilla, who died on the spot, and Caludia Mendez Bajar and Charlie Inawas, who died at a Dumaguete hospital later.

The seventh fatality, whose identity was not available as of press time, also died at the hospital during the weekend, he added.

Initial police investigation showed that the truck, driven by Cipriano Teofilo, lost its brakes while traveling downhill in Sitio Layaway, Barangay Amdus, from the neighboring Barangay Nabilog in Tayasa, Negros Oriental.

The passengers were mostly vendors doing trade during the Nabilog Market Day and had hitchhiked on their way home from Nabilog, about 25 kilometers up in the mountains, from the national highway, the police said.

The truck was reportedly trying to evade a tricycle when it fell into the ravine, the police added.

Teofilo will face charges for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and serious and minor physical injuries, the police said.*JFP

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