Mother, son killed as truck rams house

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A family lunch turned tragic Monday after a truck crashed into a house, killing a 23-year-old mother and her 1-year-old son and injuring seven others, including two minors, in Purok Super L, Barangay Pandanon, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental.

Police Maj. Ellendie Rebusquillo, chief of the Don Salvador Benedicto Municipal Police Station, said the truck was traveling downhill when it reportedly suffered a brake malfunction.

Rebusquillo said the 58-year-old truck driver turned off the engine in an attempt to stop the vehicle but lost control and failed to maneuver along a curved road because of panic.

The truck rammed into the house owned by Oliver’s family and destroyed the property, he added.

Rebusquillo said the toddler died at the scene, while his mother was declared dead at a hospital.

Three of the injured victims were in critical condition, while four others sustained minor injuries, he added.

The truck driver is under police custody, pending the victims’ family’s decision on whether to press charges.

In Kabankalan City, a 33-year-old man also died, and his father was injured after their car crashed into a truck in Barangay Binicuil on Monday.

A police investigation showed that a Toyota Revo driven by a 62-year-old pastor was on its way to buy an oxygen tank for his passenger-son when the pastor allegedly dozed off and lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle crossed into the opposite lane and hit the truck, police said.

Police said the elderly victim’s daughter told investigators that her father was taking maintenance medication for diabetes.

In Cadiz City, a 37-year-old man was also killed, and his 27-year-old companion was injured in a motorcycle accident in Barangay Tinampaan on Monday.

The younger victim, who was driving the motorcycle, reportedly lost control and overshot the roadside while they were on their way to the city proper.

Both victims fell to the ground, and the older victim was declared dead at a hospital.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old motorcycle rider who was on his way to a relative’s wake also died after he collided with another motorcycle and was struck by a cargo truck in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.

Police identified the fatality as Reynaldo, a resident of Purok Sunrise, Barangay Blumentritt.

Police Capt. Honey Labaro, chief of the Murcia Municipal Police Station, said Reynaldo was about to enter the highway from a subdivision when he was hit by another motorcycle driven by a 23-year-old utility worker from Barangay Mansilingan in this city.

Labaro said the utility worker may not have noticed Reynaldo, causing the collision.

Reynaldo was thrown into the opposite lane and was run over by the left rear tire of a truck driven by a 40-year-old resident of Cebu, which was traveling toward Murcia proper.

Labaro said Reynaldo died of head injuries, while the utility worker sustained minor injuries.

All parties involved held an initial discussion, but the victim’s family has yet to decide whether to press charges, Labaro said.

Labaro said the utility worker and the truck driver would be released from police custody after the lapse of the 18-hour reglementary detention period if no charges are filed against them.