BACOLOD CITY , Philippines – A 22-year-old man who recently graduated as a pilot in Cebu school died with his parents and a neighbor when the Suzuki multi-cab vehicle they were riding collided head-on with a cargo truck along the national highway of Brgy. 9 in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Saturday dawn.
Police reports said the fatalities, pilot Kharel Arroz died while being transported to a hospital in this city, while his father Romeo Arroz, 54, driver of the multi-cab vehicle, his mother Carolina Arroz, 62, and neighbor Melinda Lustro, 58—died on arrival at the city hospital.
Kabankalan City Police investigators disclosed that the Arroz family came from Cebu, via Dumaguete City, and were on their way home to celebrate the graduation of Kharel as a pilot, when the accident took place.
City Police desk officer Walter Seron said Romeo may have dozed off behind the wheel, not knowing that he was already occupying the lane of the cargo truck driven by Melvin Guimaras, running in the opposite direction.
The truck also fell into a canal, as the driver attempted to avoid the collision, Seron added.
Guimaras, who surrendered immediately to the Kabankalan City Police Station, is now detained at the police lock-up cell.