Bacolod City, Philippines – Five minors were killed while two others were hurt in a road accident in Victorias City, Negros Occidental shortly before midnight Thursday, police said.
The five fatalities were identified as Reilyn Jornadal Jr., 11; Mark Anthony Pasinado, 15; Edward Ventura, 16; Regie Boy Loto, 16; and Rolando Enosa, 17.
The accident site along the national highway of Barangay 13, is considered by the police as “accident-prone.”
Senior Police Officer 2 Luis Molato said the victims were on their way home from a postponed motorcycle race at the city coliseum, when the tricycle they were riding rear-ended another tricycle, then swerved into the path of an oncoming Fuzo Canter truck.
He said the truck ran over the tricycle’s sidecar before it plunged into a sugarcane field.
Pasinado, Loto and Enosa were killed on the spot, while Ventura and Jornadal Jr. died while being treated at the Ika-ayong Lawas Foundation Hospital in Victorias City, police records show.
Reor Ogyahon, who was one of the six passengers of the other tricycle driven by Jimmy Oghayon, sustained minor injuries. Reilyn Jornadal Sr., 40, survived the accident, but sustained injuries in the head, and other parts of his body.
The driver of the truck, identified as Joemarie Aldas, is being held at the Victorias City Police Station jail, pending the filing of charges against him for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injuries.
Molato said the legal counsel of the truck owner met with the families of the victims to offer financial assistance of P3,000 each, but the victims’ families refused to accept it.