1 dead, 3 hurt in motorcycle-grader collision

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - A young man was killed while three of his back riders were seriously injured when a motorcycle collided head-on against a heavy equipment motor grader along the highway in Zamboanga del Sur, according to police.

Police authorities said the victims, all five  of them on board a motorcycle, were speeding along the highway in Barangay Dumalian, San Miguel town Thursday when it collided on the motor grader driven by Rufo Lim Elis of the Walter Lao Construction.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said Hardy Vergas Carreon, 24, the driver of the motorcycle died on the spot while his companions Florentino Sarsalejo Villahermosa, 19, Godofredo Caot Basay, 22, and Jake Casacot, sustained injuries and were rushed to the nearby hospital for emergency treatment before they were transferred to Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center for further treatment.

Investigation disclosed that the victims came from Barangay Dumalian and bound for Lapuyan town  when they accidentally collided on the motor grader traversing on the opposite lane.

The motorcycle bearing plate number JH-60-83 was totally wrecked, while  the motor grader was not even dented.