Taxi driver sideswiped, killed

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A taxi driver was found dead in a gasoline station along B.S. Aquino drive, more than five kilometers away from Barangay Singcang-Airport here, where he was sideswiped by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) last Saturday.

Police identified the victim as Leonilo Borbon, 58, of Barangay Sum-ag.

Major Joery Puerto, head of Police Station 8, said Borbon was about to ride his taxi after crossing the street when he was sideswiped by an alleged speeding car driven by a college student.

Upon impact, Borbon crashed into and got stuck in the windshield of the SUV.

But the SUV driver did not stop, and instead drove away and dragged the victim until the latter fell to the ground at the gasoline station.

Puerto said the SUV driver alleged that he felt nervous after the incident, thus, he did not stop.

“Na blanko daw siya, gin nerbyos, wala man siya kabalo ka padulungan niya,” he added.

Puerto said the SUV driver was arrested at the gasoline station under the area of Police Station 2.

The SUV driver alleged that he went home around 2 a.m. that day after a drinking session. At 3 a.m. he woke up and decided to leave their house to look for something to eat.

“Medyo hubog pa siya siguro pag drive niya, kay according sa witnesses, dasig dalagan ka salakyan kay nalab-ot niya pa ang biktima na ara na sa kilid dalan,” he added.

Puerto said the victim’s family and the SUV driver will meet on Monday, Jan. 9 to discuss a possible settlement. The SUV driver is detained at Police Station 8.