Two riders killed in crash

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two riders were fatally injured after their motorcycle rammed into a truck late morning of October 8, 2021 in Lemery, Iloilo.

The fatalities were identified as John Rey Alarba, 17, and Manuel Gille, 23, both construction workers and residents of Barangay California, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

They were rushed to the Rural Health Unit of Lemery town but were declared dead on arrival.

Captain Edwin Belarmino, Lemery police chief, said Alarba was driving the motorcycle that crashed into a Fuso Canter truck around 11:10 a.m. Friday at Barangay Imbulan, Lemery.

The truck driven by 44-year-old Rene Lacerna was running on the lane with two motorcycles tailing him.

The driver of the motorcycle ahead of Alarba’s claimed he slowed down after seeing that the truck signaled to turn left upon reaching an intersection at Imbulan village.

The driver said he was surprised when he saw Alarba’s motorcycle speed past him.

Alarba, with Gille as his backrider, rammed into the truck’s rear portion. Both victims were thrown off the motorcycle because of the impact.

Belarmino said they were also not wearing a crash helmet.

Lacerna surrendered to the police after the incident while the truck was taken into police custody.

But Belarmino said talks of a settlement between the victims’ families and the truck owner are in progress.