Couple, octogenarian killed in weekend road accidents

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A couple and an elderly widow were killed in separate road accidents in this city and in Negros Occidental over the weekend.

An 83-year-old woman, identified only as “Susana,” was crossing the road when she was struck by a pickup truck in front of a gasoline station in Barangay Sum-ag on Saturday night.

The pickup truck, driven by a 49-year-old man from Ilog town, was traveling southbound from Bacolod City when the incident occurred at around 7 p.m. during a downpour.

The victim sustained severe injuries and died an hour later at a hospital, according to police.

Police Maj. Elmer Bonilla, head of the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU), said the driver was released from custody Monday night after the lapse of the reglementary detention period, as the victim’s family is currently attending to her funeral.

The following day, a couple died after their tricycle was hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven by a 23-year-old female student at Crossing Camba-og, Barangay Camba-og, Hinigaran town, on Sunday.

The victims were a 49-year-old fish vendor and his live-in partner, both from Pontevedra town, according to police.

Investigation showed that the tricycle, driven by the male victim, was tailing another vehicle when it was rear-ended by the SUV at around 3:55 a.m.

Both victims were declared dead at a hospital.

The student driver was also released from police custody after the lapse of the reglementary period.

Police Lt. Col. Jovil Sedel, chief of the Hinigaran Municipal Police Station, said the driver and the victims’ family have initially met, but the latter have yet to decide whether to press charges.

Sedel added that police are ready to assist if the victims’ family chooses to pursue a case.