3 killed, 1 hurt in road mishaps

CEBU, Philippines - At least two people died while another was seriously injured after a delivery truck of softdrinks rammed into the motorcycle they were riding along the Talamban road dawn yesterday.

Meanwhile, a woman died in Minglanilla town early morning Monday after she was hit by a bus while crossing the street in sitio Lipata, barangay Linao.

The incident in Talamban occurred around 3 a.m. yesterday, as victims Juana Bontuyan, 58; her son Jose, 38; and their helper Bolodoy Disconde were traveling towards Canduman, Mandaue City from the Pasil Fish Port. 

The truck driven by Ronilio Pepito, 22, rammed into the victims near the Tintay’s PUJ terminal and public market in barangay Talamban.

So strong was the impact that the motorcycle ridden by the victims, in turn, slammed into an electric post of the Visayan Electric Company.

It took almost an hour for personnel of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation to retrieve the mother and son from the wreckage. They were declared dead on arrival at the Cebu North General Hospital.

"Lisod gyud ang pagkuha sa duha kay napisa man sila sa pangunahan nga bahin sa delivery truck ug nadasok man gyud ang motor sa poste sa VECO," an ERUF personnel said.

Disconde survived after he was able to jump off the motorcycle shortly after the delivery truck hit them.

Initial investigation showed the truck was traveling at the wrong lane but at the City Traffic Operations Management Office, Pepito insisted it was the victims who did not follow traffic rules. Pepito personally surrendered to the Basak Police Station in Mandaue City.

He said he hurriedly left the scene of the accident for fear of retaliation from the victims’ relatives.

"Ang nag motor man ang nisuway ug bangga nako mao nga wa nakoy nahimo mao nga nikawat nako ug lane ug ako sila nabanggaan," Pepito said.

Pepito was made to undergo a liquor test after CITOM personnel found out he drank two bottles of beer a few hours before the accident.

Bontuyan’s husband, Saturnino, said his wife and son had left their house passed 1 a.m. 

Charges for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and physical injures will be filed against Pepito.

In Minglanilla, 28-year-old Analyn Sarabia died due to massive head injury after she was bumped by a bus of Librando Liner past 6am Monday.

The driver of the bus with plate number GXF-914 was identified as Eduardo Gutiao, a resident of Dumanjug town.

Investigation revealed that the bus was traveling at high speed and that it was already too late before Gutiao could step on the breaks when he saw Sarabia crossing the street.

Gutiao admitted he did not stop to help the victim because he was afraid that people in the area might maul him. He opted to voluntarily surrender to the Pardo Police Station in Cebu City.- Ramil Ayuman and Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)