Pototan crash kills 15-year-old motorcycle rider

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 15-year-old boy died after a motorcycle crash early Saturday, Jan. 3, in Pototan, Iloilo.

The victim, identified only as John, a resident of Sitio Sta. Cruz, Barangay Lico-an, Barotac Nuevo, sustained severe head injuries.

Personnel from the Pototan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office rushed him to the Iloilo Provincial Hospital, where he was declared dead at 5:10 a.m.

The crash also injured John’s two back riders, identified as RJ, 21, and Fel, 17, both residents of Barangay Lico-an.

Police said the two sustained injuries to various parts of their bodies.

The Pototan Municipal Police Station received a report of the vehicular accident at about 5 a.m. along the national highway in Barangay Tuburan, Pototan.

Investigators said John was driving a Suzuki Raider 150 motorcycle from Poblacion, Pototan, toward Barotac Nuevo when the crash occurred.

A witness told police the motorcycle was speeding and later began to zigzag before falling onto the road.

Police said none of the three riders was wearing a protective helmet at the time of the accident.