A maritime cop, businessman killed in Negros road crashes

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – A maritime police officer and a businessman were killed in separate road accidents in Negros Occidental on Sunday.

In Kabankalan City, a 32-year-old patrolman from Barangay Puso, La Castellana, died after his motorcycle crashed into a parked truck in front of a memorial park in Barangay 1.

Police Lt. Col. Roberto Indiape Jr., chief of the Kabankalan City Police Station, said the truck, driven by a 28-year-old man from San Pedro, Laguna, was parked on the outermost lane of the highway with its hazard lights on but without an early warning device.

The victim was en route from the city proper to report for duty at the Maritime Police substation in Barangay Daan Banua when he sideswiped the truck’s rear left steel railing.

He fell on the pavement and was later declared dead at a nearby hospital.

His service firearm was recovered at the scene.

Indiape said no charges have been filed against the truck driver.

In a separate incident in Ilog town, a 50-year-old businessman died, and an 18-year-old senior high school student was injured after they were hit by a Ceres Liner bus in Barangay Galicia.

Police Maj. Randy Babor, chief of the Ilog Municipal Police Station, said the bus was traveling from Kabankalan City to Hinoba-an town when it first sideswiped the student, who was riding a bicycle on his way home.

The bus allegedly hit the businessman shortly after, as he was crossing the road from a nearby rice mill.

Both victims sustained head injuries and were taken to a hospital, where the businessman was declared dead.

Babor said the student is now recuperating in the hospital.

An initial settlement was reached by all parties, leading to the release of the 56-year-old bus driver, identified only as “Ram.”

Babor added the driver may not have noticed the student on the road and may have been unable to avoid hitting the businessman due to proximity.

In Talisay City, a 26-year-old man was killed early Monday after he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a center island along the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road in Barangay Zone 15.

The victim, identified as “Jio” from Barangay Eustaquio Lopez, Silay City, was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to police.