Couple, daughter die in Iloilo road mishap

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Three members of a family died when a pick-up truck rearended their motorcycle in San Dionisio, Iloilo on Saturday night.

Artemis Arabe, 64; his partner Rosemarie, 58, and their daughter Angelie, 15, were declared dead on arrival at the Sara District Hospital, probers said. They were reportedly not wearing helmets.

The victims, who were residents of Barangay Cubay in San Dionisio, were on their way to the wake of a relative in nearby Estancia town.

Reports said the Arabes were traveling in Barangay Canas when the truck hit them at around 7:10 p.m.

The victims were reportedly thrown off their motorcycle, which hit another motorcycle.

Capt. Edward Villanis, San Dionisio police chief, said the truck driver, identified only as alias Tomy, 26, businessman, of Calinog town, sped away for fear that he might be beaten by villagers.

The truck driver went to the house of a friend in Batad town, where he left his vehicle before surrendering to the police.

Villanis said Tomy claimed he did not know that the truck had hit the victims.

Relatives of the fatalities said they would pursue charges against the truck driver.

Meanwhile, the driver of the other motorcycle, Bonna Jean Alvaro, 32, suffered minor injuries and went home after receiving first aid.

Villanis said they received a report that Alvaro was later brought to The Medical City in Iloilo City after she complained of pain in the arms.

Fuel tanker explodes in Benguet; 1 dead

Meanwhile, in Benguet, a driver of a fuel tanker died while his helper was injured after their vehicle fell to its side and exploded in La Trinidad on Saturday night.

Reports said the tanker was traveling down the road in Barangay Puguis at past 11 p.m. when the driver lost control of the wheel, causing the vehicle to fall sideways.

The identities of the driver and his helper were not immediately available.

Authorities said that although the tanker had fallen to its side, it continued to slide down the road until it hit a row of commercial establishments before bursting into flames.

The fire spread to several residential and commercial structures as well as some vehicles parked nearby.

The tanker was reportedly carrying 30,000 liters of diesel and 10,000 liters of gasoline.

The La Trinidad Fire Station declared the fire under control at 3:30 a.m. yesterday and fire out at 5:12 a.m.

The fire displaced nine families composed of 28 people, who are now staying at the municipal health and services building.

Fire probers estimated the amount of damage to the establishments alone at P11 million. — Artemio Dumlao