Tragedy on the Road: 1 Student Critical, 5 Injured After Falling from Hitchhiked Truck in Bukidnon

MARAMAG, Bukidnon — What began as a routine commute across a university campus ended in disaster on Wednesday night, July 15, 2026, after six visiting college students from Davao Oriental were thrown from the back of a moving cargo truck. One of the victims remains in critical condition.

The accident unfolded in Barangay Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon, involving an Isuzu Elf truck packed with dozens of students who had hitchhiked a ride.

According to the initial investigation by the Maramag Municipal Police Station, the Isuzu Elf truck—driven by a 27-year-old resident of Valencia City—was transporting approximately 55 students. The passengers had reportedly hitched a ride from the Dairy Area of the Central Mindanao University (CMU) campus, heading toward the university's main gate.

As the vehicle navigated a curved section of the road near the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Musuan office, the locking mechanism of the truck’s right-side panel suddenly failed. The side railing swung open abruptly, throwing six students—two males and four females—who were leaning against the panel directly onto the concrete pavement.

On-scene emergency responders acted quickly to provide first aid and coordinate transport for the victims. All six injured students were rushed to the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag for immediate medical treatment.

While five of the students are being treated for various lacerations and fractures, one victim remains in critical condition due to severe impact injuries sustained in the fall.

The driver and the Isuzu Elf truck have been taken into the custody of the Maramag Police. Investigators are currently reviewing the incident to determine the exact cause of the mechanical failure and evaluate whether to file criminal or administrative charges.

The victims are students of the Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU). Following the incident, DOrSU President Dr. Roy Ponce released an official statement reassuring the public that the university is fully committed to supporting the affected students and their families.

"DOrSU is now facilitating parents of hospitalized students to go to Bukidnon today," Dr. Ponce said. "I will personally go this morning ahead to assess the condition."

This tragedy has renewed serious safety concerns regarding "hitchhiking" or riding in the open cargo beds of utility vehicles—a common practice among students traveling across expansive rural campuses in the region.

Local police and road safety advocates have strongly urged students, motorists, and academic institutions to actively discourage the use of open cargo trucks for public passenger transport, emphasizing that these vehicles lack the safety features required to prevent catastrophic falls.