Ambulance kills elderly man, injures backrider

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An elderly man died while his backrider was injured after they were hit by an ambulance at the intersection of Bacolod-Silay Access road in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City, Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

Killed in the accident was Ricardo Miago, 65, of Barangay Mambulac, Silay City.

Miago’s backrider, Mildred Sarmiento, 43, of Barangay Hawaian, Silay City was hurt in the incident.

Police Staff Sergeant Jade Dela Cruz, traffic investigator of Talisay City Police Station, said an ambulance was transporting a victim of another road accident in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City, when its rear part was hit by a Toyota Innova driven by an intelligence officer of the Philippine Army.

The ambulance, which was on its way to Talisay City Health Office, then swerved and hit Miago’s motorcycle before it fell on its side.

Dela Cruz said the ambulance had a blinker, but its siren was not functioning.

Miago was declared dead on arrival at a hospital while his backrider and the ambulance patient suffered minor injuries.

Dela Cruz said that ambulance driver Warlito Bascones, 41, of Barangay Concepcion; and the SUV driver were temporarily held at the police station for further investigation.

But the family of Miago has initially decided not to press charges against the two drivers, according to Dela Cruz.