Two dead, two hurt in road accidents

Two people were killed while two others landed in the hospital after two vehicular incidents in Danao City and Barili town on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Bella Iwayan, 42, was heading to buy groceries in the public market for her New Year celebration when her motorcycle collided with another motorcycle along the national highway in sitio Sangi, barangay Maghanoy, Barili town, about 4:15 p.m. last Sunday.

Traffic officer PO3 Zaldy Orello yesterday said Iwayan was driving her Yamaha Krypton motorcycle with plate number YU-3977 from her house in barangay Giloktog, Barili town, when she ran into the Honda Wave motorcycle driven by Sulpicio Taypin Jr., 25, single, a resident of barangay Malhiao, Badian town, who was heading home from Carcar town.

Both drivers were brought to the Barili District Hospital where Iwayan later died.

Taypin later surrendered himself to the police but Orello said Taypin was released on Monday after the victim's husband, Carmelino, said he will no longer file charges against him after he offered to shoulder Iwayan's burial expenses.

Meanwhile, in barangay Cambanay, Danao City, Rey Laude Durano was declared dead on arrival at the Danao District Hospital when the Toyota Revo he was driving rammed a coconut tree after he overshot the opposite lane around 1:30 p.m. on New Year's Day.

Investigation conducted by the responding police led by PO3 Renante Manulat revealed that Durano was travelling together with companion Joseph Banzon Dagatan from sitio Pandan of the said barangay on their way home to barangay Suba, Danao City.

Manulat said that upon reaching the said place Durano maneuvered a curve but the van, with plate number WEF-679, overshot the other side of the road and ran into a coconut tree.

The two were immediately rushed to the hospital where Durano later died. Dagatan, who was sitting beside him in the van, was later transferred to a hospital in Cebu City.

Manulat further revealed that Durano was driving without a license and that both men were not wearing their seatbelts. He also said they found a bottle of beer inside the van but could not say if both men were drunk at the time of the accident. - Norvie S. Misa