3 dead, 9 injured in 2 road mishaps

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Three persons, including a pregnant woman, died while nine others were injured in two separate road collisions in Negros Occidental last Saturday.

In Cadiz City, an alleged speeding motorcycle driven by Eric Onyot, 22, of Barangay Cadiz Viejo encroached into the opposite lane at Barangay Luna and collided with a tricycle driven by Poljun Ofianga, 41, of Barangay Sicaba.

Killed in the accident were Onyot and Sheriel Sumugat, 32, who was eight-months pregnant, and one of the seven passengers of the tricycle.

Wounded were Ofianga and his passengers Nanie Decain, 27, Daisy Decain, 25, Jennylyn Anota, 32, and three minors whose names were withheld.

All victims are residents of Barangay Sicaba.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Robert Mansueto, city police chief, said the passengers were thrown out of the tricycle due to the strong impact of the collision.

The motorcycle was on its way to Bacolod while the tricycle was on its way to Sicaba.

All victims were taken to a hospital, where Sumugat and Onyot were declared dead.

In E.B Magalona town, a tricycle driven by a 17-year-old boy allegedly sideswiped another tricycle driven by Ildefonzo Beral, 57, of Victorias City, and collided with a 10-wheeler truck loaded with sugarcane along the highway of Barangay Alicante.

Police Captain Wilfredo Benoman Jr., town police chief, said the minor’s passenger who was his father identified as Edwin Advincula, 57, of the said village died in the accident.

Beral and the minor suffered minor injuries.

Benoman said the accident happened when the minor, who was tailing Beral’s tricycle, allegedly overtook the latter vehicle and sideswiped it.

The minor then lost control of the tricycle and swerved to the opposite lane and collided with the truck driven by Ramy Frigillano, 50, of Bago City.

Advincula was thrown off his minor-son’s tricycle and was crushed by the truck. He was declared dead in a hospital.

The two wounded victims were transferred to a hospital here and were later discharged.

Benoman said there will be an initial settlement between the truck driver, who is now under police custody, and the victim’s family.