Septuagenarian falls off bike, dies

CEBU, Philippines - A 71-year-old woman died after she fell from the motorcycle she was riding in Sitio Inad, Barangay Gaas, Balamban town last Thursday morning.

The fatality, Paulina Apador of Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City died before reaching the Balamban District Hospital due to severe head injuries.

Motorcycle driver Ronilo Rebullas Alolor, 38, Apador’s neighbor, was also treated at the same hospital after his vehicle crashed. Alolor allegedly lost control of the motorcycle after he noticed his passenger fell.

Initial investigation conducted by PO2 Arman Enriquez and PO2 Derwin Suico of the Balamban Police Station revealed that at around 8 a.m., Apador, who was suffering from high blood pressure, asked Alolor to bring her to a quack doctor. The two then left Barangay Tabunan and proceeded to Balamban town.

At around 11 a.m., after the consultation, the two decided to go home but upon reaching Sitio Inad, Barangay Gaas, Apador allegedly lost consciousness and fell from the motorcycle. This allegedly surprised Alolor, causing him to lost control over his driven motorcycle and crashed on the road.

An employee from the municipal engineering office of Balamban who happened to pass by the area brought both Apador and Alolor to the hospital for treatment but attending physician declared the woman already dead.

After treatment of the bruises he sustained, Alolor was brought to the police station but police later released him after one Christopher Apador, son of the fatality, refused to file a case against the driver as Alolor is their relative and that what happened was an accident.

Police said that Apador’s illness might have struck while riding the motorcycle, the reason why she passed out and fell.

It was also alleged that the victim was not wearing a helmet when the accident happened. Alolor was wearing his helmet that’s why he only sustained bruises and minor injuries, police added. (THE FREEMAN)