2 dead, 2 injured in road accident

CEBU, Philippines - Two were killed in a vehicular accident involving two motorcycles in the western town of Pinamungajan last Tuesday night.

The incident happened along the national highway in Barangay Pandacan at past 8pm.

The fatalities were identified as Jose Iglesia, 19, and his cousin Roderick Gabiana, 16.

Iglesia was declared dead at the Pinamungajan District Hospital while Gabiana was declared dead at the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Their two other cousins, Kenneth Iglesia and James Bonsobre, were injured and still under medication. 

All victims are from Barangay Lamac.

Pinamungajan police chief PO2 Marciano Suarez Jr. told The FREEMAN that the cousins were on board a red Honda XRM motorcycle with plate number GP-9193 heading toward Toledo City. Jose was the one driving the motorcycle at high speed.

Suddenly, Jose reportedly lost control of the motorcycle and drove to the opposite lane just as, as it appeared, Tato stopped in the middle of the road to make a u-turn toward a gasoline station. Tato was driving a Yamaha Crypton with plate number 9521-IL. 

Jose reportedly tried to overtake Tato but another vehicle came approaching, prompting him to go back to his lane, a maneuver that failed to work and led his motorcycle to a tree by the roadside.

Among the four, it was Jose and Gabiana who suffered severe injuries.

The vehicles involved are now in police’s custody. Suarez said both parties were driving without license.

Tato is now under police custody and is detained at the Pinamungajan police stockade. —(FREEMAN)