Two killed, six hurt in Passi City crash

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two motorcycle riders were killed after a pickup truck collided with them in Passi City, Iloilo, on Monday morning, April 20.

Police identified the fatalities only as alias Jerald, 22, of Barangay Aglalana, Passi City, and alias Arnold, 40, of Barangay Magdungao, Passi City.

Jerald was driving a Skygo motorcycle, with Arnold as his back rider, when a Nissan Frontier Navara pickup truck crashed into them at about 8:30 a.m.

The pickup truck was driven by Rhick, 20, a student from Malic Street, Barangay Ilawod, Pontevedra, Capiz.

Rhick was with his older brother, Gian, 24, and both were on their way from Pontevedra to Iloilo City.

Aside from the two fatalities, the crash also injured six bystanders, including two children.

Police identified the injured bystanders as Ashly, 2, Claire, 21, Raymark, 27, Jennifer, 19, Joy, 33, and Prince, 3, all residents of Barangay Aglalana, Passi City.

According to police reports, the pickup truck was speeding, swerved into the opposite lane, and hit a tricycle parked along the roadside.

The vehicle then collided with the motorcycle traveling in the opposite direction before plowing into a group of bystanders.

Responders from the Bureau of Fire Protection in Passi City rushed the victims to the hospital.

Jerald and Arnold were declared dead on arrival.

The injured victims were treated at Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Passi City.

Lt. Col. Herman Magbanua, Passi City police chief, said the suspect told investigators that he had lost control of the wheel.

Magbanua said closed-circuit television footage showed that the driver was speeding at the time of the incident.

“The pick-up truck driver was still in shock. We couldn’t extract additional information from him,” Magbanua said.

Police investigators are also looking into the possibility that Rhick was still an inexperienced driver.

The suspect was placed under the custody of the Passi City police for proper disposition of the case.

The crash also underscored the danger that speeding poses not only to motorists, but also to pedestrians and other roadside bystanders.