Septuagenarian killed in road mishap

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 74-year-old woman died after she was hit by a car in Dumangas, Iloilo morning of June 11, 2021.

The victim, Desposoria Formalidad, was crossing the road at Barangay Pagdugue around 7:10 a.m. Friday when a Suzuki Celerio sedan hit her.

Kevin Rexil Almira, 27, a resident of Barangay Agcuyawan Pulo, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo said he was driving his vehicle at normal speed, but the victim suddenly crossed the road.

It was already too late for him to evade Formalidad.

Almira, who works as an assistant manager at a hardware store, voluntarily surrendered after the incident.

Major Joven Arevalo, Dumangas police chief, said the victim’s relatives claimed that she had some problems with her eyesight and hearing.

Formalidad, also a resident of the said place, was a widow with an only child who already passed away.

She was living alone while her nieces and nephews checked on her from time to time.

They learned that Formalidad was about to check the status of her social pension when the incident happened.

Meanwhile, another vehicular accident also happened in Pototan, Iloilo afternoon of June 10.

It involved a passenger tricycle and the patrol vehicle of the Pototan Police Station.

The incident injured passenger Mela Molina, 27, of Bagangay Abay, Maasin, Iloilo, and tricycle driver Ryan Vera, 41, of Barangay Guinacas, Pototan, Iloilo.

They were taken to Iloilo Provincial Hospital for treatment.

Vera was only treated for a minor injury. His son, Ryan Lagos, who was also with him during the incident, was unharmed.

Major Ciriaco Esquilarga, Pototan police chief, said he was driving the patrol car when the tricycle merged at an intersection in T. Magbanua Street.

It was raining and the tricycle came from an inner street.

Esquilarga surmised that the plastic cover in front of the tricycle driver may have impeded his vision.

Vera was able to apply his brake but hit the rear portion of the patrol car.

Molina was thrown off the tricycle while Vera suffered injuries on his face.

Esquilarga said they would provide help for Molina’s medical needs.