Elderly woman killed in trike mishap

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 73-year-old woman was killed in a tricycle accident at 4 p.m. Saturday at Barangay Quinolpan, San Enrique, Iloilo.

Mely Botero, a resident of Barangay Mapili, San Enrique, was rushed to Don Valerio F. Palmares Memorial District Hospital in Passi City where she was declared dead on arrival.

Captain Johnny Oro, San Enrique police chief, said Botero was with her younger sister and her 7-year-old granddaughter when the accident happened.

They came from Passi City and were on their way home when the incident occurred.

Tricycle driver Nenito Laurista, 42, of Barangay Man-it, Passi City, said he was not speeding during the mishap.

For a moment, Laurista claimed he took his sight off the road and turned his gaze to Botero, who allegedly appeared sleepy.

Oro said the tricycle is a Rusi motorcycle with an improvised sidecar and has no windshield as most tricycles do.

That split second that Laurista took his eyes off the road spelled the difference, as the tricycle ahead of him suddenly applied its brake.

To avoid a collision, Laurista also stepped on the brake.

Botero, who was taken by surprise, hit her head on the sidecar’s handle and fell from the sidecar.

She suffered injuries on her head, both legs and other parts of her body.

Her sister and granddaughter were unscathed.

Laurista took Botero to the hospital and later turned himself in to police authorities.

Oro said the suspect and the victim’s family have already talked in amicably settling the case.