Multiple collisions kill 4 in Argao

CEBU, Philippines — Four people died and four others were seriously injured in separate vehicular accidents in Argao town over the weekend.

The fatalities were identified as Aquillo Sillote, 62; his wife Virgilia, 61; and Vince Brylle Villaces, 4, all residents of Minglanilla, Cebu; and Jerry Cariñosa, 40, resident of Barangay Anajao, Argao.

The Sillote couple and Villaces sustained fatal injuries in the head and chest after a van-type multicab they were riding collided with a trailer truck driven by Leonil Judith, 32, at 10:30 a.m. yesterday in Sitio Himongbongan, Barangay Taloot.

Chief Inspector Cesar Misola, Argao Police Station chief, said that four other passengers — Maricel Sillote Fat, 29; Kurt Lenmark Fat, 5; Reymark Sillote Villaces, 12; and Ayisha Sillote, 9— also suffered serious injuries and are now confined in the hospital in Cebu City.

Misola said the victims came from a family trip in Oslob and were on their way to Cebu City when a multiple collision happened. Misola said that aside from the multicab and the trailer truck, there were also Toyota Wigo and Kia Sorrento involved.

He said that based on their investigation, the multicab driven by Aquillo had encroached on the opposite lane hitting the trailer truck. The truck driver lost control of the vehicle and also hit a Kia Sorento driven by Sulpicio Gacayan Ubod, 67.  The impact had thrown the multicab back, hitting another vehicle, a Toyota Wigo driven by Julius Cesar Olayvar. Fortunately Ubod, Olayvar, and the truck driver were not hurt.

“Pagkaigo niya sa trailer, tungod sa impact kay nituyok ni ang multicab mga 180 degrees pabalik sa iyang lane ug naigo niya ang Toyota Wigo,” said traffic investigator Jayson Lobendina.

In an earlier accident, Cariñosa also died after his motorcycle collided with a Toyota Innova Saturday evening in Barangay Tulic, Argao. The victim was alleged drunk and was driving on the opposite lane of the highway.

Lobendina said the driver of the Innova, Hazel Celerio, 45, did not notice Cariñosa because it happened at the blind curved portion of the highway. Cariñosa was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. (FREEMAN)