Two killed in multiple road crashes in Murcia

By Glazyl Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Two construction workers riding on a motorcycle were killed after they figured in a multiple vehicular accident at Purok Manman Ko, Barangay Pandanon Silos, Murcia, Negros Occidental last Saturday.

Police identified the fatalities as motorcycle driver Julieto Cañete, 47, of Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City, and companion Jimmy Gadiane of Barangay Prosperidad, San Carlos City.

Police Lieutenant Frankie Paciente, deputy police chief of Murcia Municipal Police Station, said the accident happened when a delivery van loaded with freezers of ice cream suffered mechanical trouble and hit the rear part of a minivan it was tailing.

Delivery van driver Micheal Cabugwason, 33, of Barangay Singcang-Airport here, then swerved the vehicle to the left that led to a collision with the motorcycle, Paciente said.

The van also hit a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that was tailing the motorcycle.

The victims were thrown off their motorcycle based on a dash camera footage of a vehicle that was also traveling in the area. A copy of the footage was provided to the media yesterday.

“Nawad-an daw preno ang (van) driver and na drag niya pa ang motor then daw na sandwich ang motor sa van kag SUV,” Paciente said.

The victims died on the spot.

Another motorcycle rider that was also tailing the victims was unharmed after he managed to jump off his motorcycle, Paciente said.

Paciente said the victims were on their way home after getting their salaries from their employer here, while the van was on its way here when the accident occurred.

The SUV driver and his passenger, as well as Cabugwason, suffered minor injuries.

Paciente said the victims’ families and Cabugwason’s employer had a scheduled meeting yesterday for a possible settlement.

Cabugwason will be released from police custody if no charges will be filed against him within the 18-hour reglementary detention.