Toddler killed in Silay road crash

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A three-year-old girl died and her four-year-old cousin was injured after they were involved in a multiple-vehicle crash at the junction of Rizal Highway-Bangga Bulangan Road in Barangay 5, Silay City, Negros Occidental, on Monday.

Police Lt. Col. Edison Garcia, chief of the Silay City Police Station, said the two children were riding an electric bike, or e-bike, driven by their 33-year-old uncle from Silay City when they were hit by a Ceres Liner bus traveling in the opposite direction.

Due to the severe impact, the younger victim was declared dead at a hospital, while her older cousin sustained minor injuries, Garcia said.

The bus, driven by a 43-year-old resident of Cadiz City, was tailing a taxi driven by a 54-year-old resident of Barangay Banago here when it allegedly sideswiped the taxi, which reportedly made a sudden U-turn.

Garcia said the bus driver tried to avoid the taxi but swerved, causing the bus to also hit the e-bike, which was about to turn left.

Garcia said all parties met Tuesday morning, and Vallacar Transit Inc., which operates Ceres Liner, signified its intent to shoulder the medical and burial expenses of the two children.

The bus driver was released from police custody Tuesday after no complaint was filed within the 18-hour reglementary detention period, Garcia added.