One dead, 3 hurt in Iloilo accident

CEBU, Philippines – A collision between a motorcycle and a taxi has left one person dead and three others injured in Pavia town of Iloilo.

The fatality was the motorcycle driver Jimson Bolivar, 41, of Barangay Buhang in Jaro district of Iloilo City, who died on the spot due to head injuries.

His backrider, 26-year-old Joniel Clarito of Sibalom, Antique, was injured and is now treated at Western Visayas Medical Center. The two others who sustained minor injuries were the taxi passengers, John Michael Turiano, 26, and his wife Ana Marie, 24, of Barangay Aganan in Pavia..

Police investigators said the incident happened around 11 p.m. of Sunday at an intersection of the circumferential road at Barangay Ungka in Pavia. The impact of the collision was too strong that left the motorcycle a total wreck.

Senior Inspector Dante Dumaguing, Pavia Police chief, said the taxi was on its way to Pavia from Iloilo City, while the motorcycle came from Barangay Hibao-an in Mandurriao district of Iloilo city and took a short cut going to Tacas in Jaro district.

Dumaguing said the motorcycle could be running at high speed before it crashed into the left side of the Crispher Taxi (license plate FWX-200). “There was no skid mark on the road. Maybe, the motorcycle driver failed to apply his brakes,” he said.

The taxi driver, Christian Erta, 24, of Infante in Molo district of Iloilo City, suffered no injury, but is now in custody of the Pavia Police for further investigation.

Reports have it that the motorcycle riders maybe drunken, as they came from a party and were on their way home. The scene of the accident was well-lit and has signs for motorists to slow down, Dumaguing added.