Two 18-year-old riders die in Barotac Viejo collision

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Two teenage boys died in a road collision late afternoon of Sept 28, 2022 in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

The victims were identified as Rafael Balquin and Dennie Morera, both 18 years old and residents of Barangay San Fernando, Barotac Viejo.

Witnesses’ accounts said that both victims were driving along Sitio Lomboy, Barangay San Juan, Barotac Viejo, around 5:40 p.m. Wednesday when they were sideswiped by a wing van.

The two riders were not wearing crash helmets when the incident happened.

They also had no driver’s license.

The van driver, 35-year-old Ronald Mamon of Barangay Bantayan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, allegedly lost control of the vehicle and hit the two teenage riders who were in the opposite lane.

Staff Sergeant Rio Dawn Candelario, Barotac Viejo PNP traffic investigator, explained that the area where the incident happened was an S-curve road with Mamon on a downhill drive.

Mamon was repeatedly honking after he noticed that something was wrong with his brakes.

The suspect encroached the opposite lane and hit Balquin who was driving his father’s Suzuki Smash motorcycle and Morera who was driving his employer’s Rush motorcycle.

After hitting the two riders, Mamon rammed into a tree and got pinned behind the wheel.

Balquin and Morera sustained injuries on the head, legs, and arms.

The three drivers were rushed to Governor Niel D. Tupas Sr. District Hospital in Barotac Viejo.

Morera was declared dead around 6:07 p.m. on the said date while Balquin died at 6:23 p.m.

Candelario said Mamon was subsequently placed on hospital arrest.

He added that the family has yet to decide if they would pursue criminal charges against the driver.