Man killed, wife hurt in accident at the SRP

A man was killed while his wife was injured after they were hit by a van while they went to check the back of their stalled multicab along the South Coastal Road, near barangay Pasil, yesterday.

The fatality was identified as Lasm Bacus Abaquita, 48. His wife Milagros, 47, was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center by the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation due to her injuries.

The driver of the van, who later surrendered to the responding authorities, was identified as Roel Tabriga, 33, of barangay Magdugo, Toledo City. He was driving an Isuzu delivery van owned by Cebu Overseas Hardware based in Plaridel Street, barangay Sto. Niño, Cebu City.

Traffic investigator PO1 Elmer Degoro said the victims were traveling on the said road heading home to barangay Tabunok, Talisay City, when their multicab with plate number GMX-711 suddenly stopped due to engine failure.

The couple got off their vehicle and checked the back of the multicab where the fuel tank was, but suddenly the delivery van ploughed into them.

Lasm was killed after being pinned and dragged between the two vehicles for five meters while his wife was thrown a few feet away before landing hard on the pavement.

Tabriga, who suffered a minor injury, told reporters said that he noticed the couple and tried to stop the van but it was too late.

Police are now preparing charges for damage of property, serious physical injury and homicide through reckless imprudence against Tabriga. - Edwin Ian Melecio