Vehicle collision injures 4 girls, 2 priests

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The year 2013 was greeted with a vehicular collision along the national highway near the Sandugo Shrine in Barangay Bo-ol, this city, which resulted in serious injuries to nine persons, four of them minors and two priests.

A white-and gray Toyota Hi-Ace van-for-hire was heading to this city from Carmen town veered to its left lane and crashed head-on with an incoming green Isuzu Trooper SUV, which was going to Baclayon town.

The SUV, with plate no. GJR-860, was reportedly driven by Fr. Warren Abarquez of Maribojoc Parish with companion Fr. Johnson Ente of Clarin Parish, while the van-for-hire (plate no. GXP-427) was driven by a certain Ronald Balose, 34, of Brgy. Sta. Cruz in this city.

Nobody actually saw the moment of collision but some witnesses said they saw the van-for-hire was not running on its right side lane of the highway.

Beside the two priests and the four girls, the two other badly injured passengers of the van were Anna Marie Vallente, 29, of Carmen town and Teofanes Yong, 56, of Getafe town.

With the help of Tarsier 117 rescue vehicles, all of the injured inside the van were rushed to the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in the city while the priests were brought to the Ramiro Hospital, the report said.

A witness said a woman who was sitting at front seat of the van-for-hire was trapped because of the van’s door was crushed and could not be opened. Rescuers had to destroy the door to yank out the woman, he said.

The head-on collision of the two vehicles appeared like bulls locking their horns that policemen and barangay folks could hardly untangle the two. The engine of the van had a leak and spilt out its oil.

Investigators have reportedly discovered a handgun inside the van-for-hire. (FREEMAN)