Three killed in separate road collisions

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Three persons, including a teenager, were killed while two others were wounded after they figured in separate road collisions in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last Tuesday.

The first road accident happened around 10:15 a.m. at Hacienda Nueva, Barangay To-oy where 22-year-old Lito Garzon of Barangay 3 died.

Police Corporal Mark John Dato, traffic investigator of Himamaylan City Police Station, said that a sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven by a 62-year-old woman reportedly overtook two tailing trucks and collided with a motorcycle driven by Garzon.

The SUV driver failed to notice the approaching motorcycle, causing a head-on collision.

Dato said that Garzon, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered severe chest pain and head injury. He was declared dead on arrival at a hospital.

Dato said the SUV driver was also taken to a hospital in Kabankalan City due to chest pain. Both parties have reached a settlement, according to the traffic investigator.

Later that night, another accident occurred around 7:10 p.m. at Sitio Nato, Barangay Aguisan, killing two relatives and injuring a 15-year-old girl.

Dato identified the fatalities as Mariel Pedro, 19, and his aunt Ledesma Arselias, 46, both residents of the said village.

Dato said that a tricycle driven by Pedro allegedly overtook a vehicle it was tailing, leading to a head-on collision with a van driven by a 29-year-old resident of Sipalay City.

The tricycle was on its way home, while the van loaded with five passengers was on its way to Sipalay City.

Dato said that Pedro passed away at a hospital while Arselias was declared dead on arrival. Arselias’s 15-year-old niece suffered minor injuries and was referred to a hospital here.

Dato said the van driver also suffered minor injuries. He was released from detention yesterday, following a settlement with the victims’ family.