Woman killed, four hurt as minivan hits tricycle in Bacolod

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – A woman died and four others were injured after a minivan collided with a tricycle in Purok Busay, Barangay Cabug, on Wednesday morning.

The fatality was identified as Arasili, the wife of tricycle driver Freddie, who was also injured in the crash; both were residents of Barangay Mansilingan.

The three other injured passengers were identified as Joel, Josephine, and Candelaria.

Police Major Elmer Bonilla, chief of the Traffic Enforcement Unit, said the minivan, driven by 38-year-old Erwin from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, was headed to Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City when the crash occurred around 5 a.m.

Bonilla said Erwin lost control while navigating a road under repair, causing the vehicle to swerve into the opposite lane and collide with the tricycle carrying the five victims.

Erwin reportedly told police he failed to see the tricycle and may have been unfamiliar with the route.

All five tricycle passengers were rushed to a hospital, where Arasili was declared dead.

Following the crash, Bonilla said Erwin’s lone passenger took a taxi to catch a flight to Manila.

The minivan driver remains in police custody, pending the decision of the victims’ families on whether to file a case.

This was the second fatal road accident involving a tricycle this week.

The first occurred early Tuesday, when two people were killed and three others injured after a sports utility vehicle slammed into a tricycle at the intersection of B.S. Aquino and Gatuslao Streets in Barangay 3.

Bonilla reminded motorists to exercise extra caution, especially as the holiday season approaches.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old man also died Monday when his motorcycle crashed into a trailer truck in Barangay Sta. Teresa, Manapla town.