2 die in hit-and-run in Catmon

CEBU, Philippines — Two female friends riding a motorcycle were killed in a hit-and-run incident involving a trailer truck along the national highway in Barangay Panalipan, Catmon, northern Cebu, on Saturday evening, February 21.

The fatalities were identified as Jerly Colongon Cagoyong, 33, the driver of the motorcycle, and her backrider, Jenifer Luza Damonsong, 50, both residents of Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City.

The prime mover truck with a tri-axle trailer loaded with bottles of soft drinks that struck the two was driven by 27-year-old Mark Absalon, a native of Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

Based on the initial investigation by the Catmon Municipal Police Station, the incident occurred around 6 p.m. while the victims were returning home on a motorcycle after a trip from Sogod.

Reportedly, both vehicles were traveling in the same direction toward the south, heading to Cebu City, when the motorcycle overtook the trailer truck.

However, in the middle of overtaking, another motorcycle approached, prompting the victims to allegedly swerve back to their lane, where the truck was traversing. This led the truck driver to accidentally sideswipe and run over the victims.

Due to the impact of the collision, the victims sustained severe injuries to various parts of their bodies and were immediately rushed to Juan Dosado Memorial Hospital in Barangay Damolog, Sogod, but were later declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the suspect, who immediately fled instead of stopping, was later intercepted along the national highway in Barangay Poblacion, Carmen, a neighboring town, at around 7 p.m., while personnel from the Carmen Municipal Police Station were conducting police visibility operations in the area.

Absalon was immediately arrested and turned over to the responding personnel of the Catmon police.

Police Corporal James Rey Cabillar, an investigator of the Catmon police, said that the suspect admitted he did not realize at first that he had run over someone, stressing that it was dark.

“Base sa among giistorya niya, wala siya kabantay nga naa siyay naligsan… Ug tan-awon nimo ang area, ngitngit gyud siya,” he told The Freeman.

He added that the driver also did not notice that he was being chased by a resident on a motorcycle and only decided to stop when he was approached by police personnel in Carmen.

Furthermore, the suspect is currently being held in police custody for proper disposition while awaiting the decision of the victims' families. He will be charged with Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Double Homicide, which is expected to be filed today, February 23.