3 dead, 7 injured in road crash

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Three persons were dead while seven others were injured in three separate road accidents in Negros Occidental last week.

In Cauayan town, a man died while four others, including his wife were injured after they figured in a tricycle collision at Barangay Bulata last Friday.

Killed was Arnel Galapin, 40, of Barangay Elihan.

Police Major Lowell Garinganao, town police chief, said Galapin was probably speeding when his tricycle was allegedly hit by another tricycle driven by Diogracias Cuenca, 49, of Barangay Lina-on.

Garinganao said Galapin was stuck on the tricycle during the collision and was not able to move away when it exploded.

Galapin died on the spot due to severe burns while his wife, Cuenca, and his two passengers sustained minor injuries and were brought to a hospital.

In E.B. Magalona town, Michael Balcena, 37, of Barangay Villamonte here died while a couple was injured after they also figured in a motorcycle collision at Barangay Sto. Niño last Saturday.

Wounded were Lauro Bellos, 35; and his partner Jocelyn Carizo, 41, both residents of Barangay Tanza.

Police Captain Wilfredo Benoman Jr., town police chief, said the collision happened when Bellos suddenly executed a left turn while Balcena was allegedly speeding in a northerly direction.

Both of them probably failed to notice each other, thus it resulted to the collision, he added.

All three victims sustained serious injuries and were brought to a hospital, where Balcena was declared dead.

In San Carlos City, Niño Dela Peña, 23, of Escalante City, died while another was injured after they got involved in a road accident at Barangay Prosperidad last Saturday.

Wounded was 33-year-old Jason Puentenigra of Barangay Prosperidad.

Police records showed that Dela Peña who was driving a motorcycle allegedly hit Puentenigra who was traveling on the opposite direction.

Dela Peña sustained head injuries and was declared dead at a hospital while Puentenigra is still confined at a hospital due to serious injuries.