Policeman dies in vehicular accident

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman died after the car he was driving fell into a ravine along Barangay Sabang in the town of Sibonga at 4 am yesterday.

It was believed that Police Officer 2 Iranie Dela Vega, who was assigned with Cebu City Traffic Division, fell asleep resulting to the accident.

SPO1 Bernard Otida of Sibonga Police Station said Dela Vega, 35, was driving a Kia Sportage (YDF 387) on his way home in the town’s barangay Poblacion when he met the accident.

Dela Vega, who served as team leader of Traffic Patrol Group’s Mobile Traffic, has just sent his wife and mother-in-law to the airport in Lapu-Lapu City.

He was driving through the national highway in Barangay Sabang when his car went straight to the other lane, instead of taking the right turn.

The car hit three mango trees, which, due to the impact were cut down. The car subsequently fell straight to a 10-feet deep ravine before finally hitting a Chico tree, said Otida.

Dela Vega was supposedly about 1.5 kilometers away from home already.

Residents, who were awakened by the collision, rushed to help the policeman, who was already unconscious.

The vehicle was totally damaged.

Otida said the victim was taken to the Carcar District Hospital but the doctor pronounced him dead on arrival. The victim sustained fractured bones and severe head injuries, he said.

Police believed the victim might have just fallen asleep considering that it was still 2 am when he sent his wife to the airport. He also was not drunk that time, Otida said further, and the area was not accident-prone.

The policeman’s wife, Charlie, who was supposed to take the 5 am flight to Mindanao, retreated and rushed home to attend to her husband. The policeman left behind five children.

“Kadto siya bisan unsa imong isugo mutuman ra pud. Di g’yud to kamao masuko, (He would always follow orders and never gets angry.)” said Charlie over Balitang Bisdak. The family could not still believe Dela Vega is already dead.

SPO4 Henry Abalo, TPG’s chief of administration, said Dela Vega had no derogatory records and was in fact a smiling person. The victim was supposed to report again for duty at 2 pm yesterday.

“Hingatawa ‘to siya. Wala’y negative remark about niya, (He was jolly. There are no negative remarks about him.) ” said Abalo.

Abalo, based on their record, said Dela Vega entered the police service in December 2007 and was assigned in TPG since September 2011. —MIT (FREEMAN)