Two killed, six hurt in road mishap

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – Two persons were dead while six others were injured after a sedan crashed into a house at Purok Mainugyunon, Barangay Napoles, Bago City, Negros Occidental late Sunday night.

Killed in the accident were Ronald Sudoy of Barangay Calumangan, and Jomarie Guco, 38, of Barangay Napoles.

The wounded were Joseph Bagatela, 42, of Barangay Villamonte; his two cousins Raffy Jalea, 28, and Rommel Jalea, 41; and friends Jojet Quilantang, 38, and Judy Abello, 29.

An 11-year-old child suffered minor injuries.

Police Major John Joel Batusbatusan, city police chief, said Bagatela was driving a Toyota Vios from his piggery when the incident occurred around 10:55 p.m. Sunday.

Batusbatusan said that seven persons, including Bagatela, were on board the vehicle, making it overloaded amid the social distancing protocol of the authorities due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Batusbatusan said that Bagatela, who was reportedly drunk, lost control of the vehicle and swerved the car towards a house damaging a concrete house at the roadside and causing minor injuries to an 11-year-old child.

The vehicle then slammed into a mango and mahogany trees.

Sudoy and Guco were declared dead in a hospital due to severe injuries while five other victims were taken to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here.

Batusbatusan said they are waiting for the decision of the victims regarding the filing of charges against Bagatela.