Teacher among 4 killed in twin road mishaps

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Four people, including a public school teacher, were killed in two separate road accidents in Negros Occidental on Friday and Sunday.

The most recent incident involved a motorcycle collision that killed three individuals early Sunday morning in Hacienda Alipion, Barangay Lalagsan, La Castellana.

The fatalities were identified by police as “Yong-yong” and “Itsoy,” both laborers and residents of Barangay Cabagna-an, La Castellana; and “Vicente,” 46, a public school teacher from Barangay Tinongan, Isabela.

According to a police investigation, Yong-yong and Itsoy were heading to La Castellana from Isabela, while Vicente was on his way to Isabela when the crash occurred.

Police Capt. Jose Michael Muñez, deputy chief of the La Castellana Municipal Police Station, said the victims were reportedly intoxicated at the time of the accident, which happened shortly after 1 a.m.

Both drivers were declared dead on arrival at a hospital, while Itsoy succumbed to his injuries later, Muñez said.

On Friday, a separate accident claimed the life of a 41-year-old former teacher and barangay treasurer, who was run over by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) following a crash between a tricycle and a wing van in Sitio Tapol, Barangay Salong, Kabankalan City.

The fatality was identified as “Ernesto,” a resident of Barangay Salong.

Police Lt. Col. Roberto Indiape Jr., chief of the Kabankalan City Police Station, said Ernesto had been riding a tricycle driven by a 27-year-old man on the way to Barangay Tapi.

The tricycle and an SUV allegedly overtook a pickup truck, but the tricycle miscalculated and collided with a wing van loaded with dry goods and medicine, driven by a 53-year-old man from Bacolod City.

The impact caused Ernesto, who was seated behind the tricycle driver, to fall. He was then run over by the SUV, which was driven by a 71-year-old man.

Indiape said both the wing van and SUV drivers were released from police custody on Saturday following an initial settlement.