Rider killed in motorcycle-van collision

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A rider died after his motorcycle collided with a passenger van late afternoon of April 5, 2022 in San Rafael, Iloilo.

The fatality was identified as Dante Baldia, 59, of Barangay Poblacion, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Lieutenant Alexander Lauron, San Rafael police chief, said the victim came from visiting his family in San Rafael when the incident happened.

He was on his way home when the collision happened around 5:20 p.m. of Tuesday along Sitio Iloco, Barangay Poblacion.

Witnesses claimed Baldia appeared to be unsteady, and his motorcycle was zigzagging before colliding with the passenger van which was running on the opposite direction.

Ramon Palad, 61, the van driver from Barangay Pontoc, Lemery town, claimed he tried to avoid the collision by hitting the brakes.

“But the rider encroached the other lane and hit the van, which already went to full stop,” Lauron said.

Baldia, who was not wearing a protective helmet, was thrown out around a meter from his motorcycle.

His head may have hit the van.

Baldia was rushed to the nearest hospital but did not survive.

Lauron said the fatality could have been under the influence of liquor when the incident happened.

His family wanted an autopsy to be conducted.

“We’re not discounting the possibility that he had a heart attack. But his family claimed he was not taking any maintenance medicine,” he said.

Palad is now in police custody for proper disposition of his case.