Holy Week vehicular mishaps leave 7 dead

MANILA, Philippines — Seven people died while several others were injured in separate vehicular accidents that occurred in the country during the Holy Week.

Three fatalities each were reported in the incidents that occurred in Zamboanga del Sur and Negros Occidental yesterday morning and on Friday, respectively.

On Thursday, a man died while two others were injured after a Tamaraw FX rearended a tricycle in Sariaya, Quezon.

In Iloilo, 57 people were injured when their jeepney rolled over yesterday morning.

The fatalities in Zamboanga del Sur were identified as Lolita, 76, and Lyka Eda Michele, 16, both surnamed Lebrea, and Rene Sega, 59.

Eighteen others were injured in the incident, which occurred in Dumalinao town at past 10 a.m.

Capt. Jovan Klent Palo, officer-in-charge of the Dumalinao police, said a speeding wing van of a courier company hit a pick-up truck, a bongo light truck, a mini-van and three tricycles.

The impact caused the van and the pick-truck to fall off a bridge and into a river.

Meanwhile, aside from three fatalities, 16 people were injured in a multiple vehicular collision that occurred in Bacolod, Negros Occidental on Friday.

Most of the victims were participating in a procession in Barangay Alangilan when a Toyota Innova, driven by Jagpret Singh, collided with a tricycle with four people on board.

The impact caused the tricycle to hit a police patrol car, which was guiding the procession, a multicab and some devotees.

Tricycle driver Jonelo Solano, 66, died at the scene of the accident while village watchman Gerwin Tanique died in a hospital. The third fatality, Dynha Plohinog, died yesterday morning.

Among those injured were two policemen and several minors. Thirteen of them are still being treated in different hospitals.

Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod City police chief, said Singh tested positive for alcohol.

The 57 injured victims in Iloilo were on their way to an excursion when their jeepney rolled over in Barangay Maninila in Miag-ao at past 8 a.m. yesterday.

Jeepney driver Robert Alemania said they were traveling along a winding road when he lost control of the wheel.

Alemania said the vehicle swerved and rolled over in the middle of the road.

Maj. Richard Lao, Miag-ao police chief, said the victims were brought to different hospitals for treatment of injuries. He said the jeepney was overloaded. — Jennifer Rendon, Michelle Zoleta, Daphne Galvez