3 die in weekend accidents

CEBU, Philippines - Three persons were killed in separate vehicular accidents over the weekend.

In Mandaue City, a helper at the Kimwa Construction and Development Corporation died when the operator of the mixing machine turned on the equipment with the victim inside the orbit. In the towns of Daanbantayan and Consolacion, a five-year-old boy died after he was hit by a speeding vehicle while a 28-year-old man died after he rammed his motorcycle into a 10-wheeler truck.

Elpidio Bajagan, 58, a stay-in worker at the Kimwa Construction and Development Corporation located along M. Logarta St. Barangay Subangdaku, died on the spot when Octavio de Luna, 46, plant operator of the firm, turned on the mixing machine while the victim was inside the orbit.

Police said the incident happened when Bejagan and De Luna were about to start work about 3:39 dawn yesterday. De Luna settled himself on the driver’s area and started the engine when he allegedly noticed that the window of the orbit was open. He then stopped the engine and called Bajagan’s son, Edgar, to check the orbit. When Edgar did so, he saw his father inside lifeless. Police said Bajagan was “gruesomely beheaded.”

Bajagan’s remains were taken to the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes. He was a native of Barangay Manlapay, Dalaguete.

De Luna is detained at Police Station 2 in Barangay Subangdaku while awaiting the formal filing of charges against him.

Meanwhile, in the Daanbantayan incident, a five-year-old boy passed away at the Daanbantayan District Hospital just minutes after he was hit by a vehicle along the national highway in Barangay Pajo. The attending physician said the boy died due to cardio respiratory arrest secondary to cerebral contusions.

PO2 Ramil Claro said the boy suddenly crossed the road when a Ford New Everest bearing YGX-636 driven by Marcelino Pepito, 40, of Barangay Maya hit him.

The vehicle was heading towards Bogo City when the incident happened. Pepito said it was too late for him to apply brakes.

Pepito is now detained at the Daanbantayan police stockade while a case for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against him is being prepared.

In Consolacion, 28-year-old Alvie Pino of Barangay Cubacub, Mandaue City died after the motorcycle he was driving rammed into a 10-wheeler truck parked along the national highway in Barangay Pitogo Saturday morning.

The truck bearing GRD-745 is owned by Nestor del Rosario of Barangay Kawayan, Carcar City. The driver was identified as Fernando Silva, 38, of Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City.

Details of the incident remained sketchy but police said Pino was on board his motorcycle bearing 9415IQ when he allegedly rammed the bike into the rear portion of the parked truck. No one else was reportedly in the area at that time.

Pino was brought to the Cebu Doctor’s Hospital but died an hour later. —(FREEMAN)