(Due to lack of space in this issue, this column gives way to the following article.)
Two persons lost their lives in three separate vehicular accidents in Virac and San Andres within just 24 hours spanning Saturday and Sunday, the Catanduanes police reported.
The spate of mishaps began at 3:45 AM of Dec. 9, 2023 along Moonwalk road near the Risen Christ Chapel in barangay San Isidro Village when a pickup truck hit an oncoming tricycle that strayed into the other lane.
Pandan Liga ng mga Barangay federation president and ex-officio Councilor Solomon Trinidad Jr., 45, a resident of Baldoc, was driving a Toyota Hi-Lux (EAF-9169) on the way to the northern town, with his wife, two children and Purot barangay chairman Edgar Taroy as passengers when the accident occurred.
The pickup truck was headed to the national road when a tricycle in the opposite lane encroached the truck’s lane, causing the collision.
The impact caused the left wheel guard of the truck to literally peel off when it came into contact with the GI pipe frame on the driver’s side of the tricycle, which ended in an upside-down position with its left front frame heavily damaged.
Fortunately, the driver of the tricycle, security guard Jerry Fajardo, 28, of Cabungahan, San Andres, sustained only minor injuries while his passenger, fellow guard Ramil Tumalin, 31, of Sioron, Gigmoto, escaped unscathed.
Fajardo, who is not licensed to drive, and a passenger in the truck, PB Taroy, were brought by Philippine Red Cross personnel to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center for treatment.
Romero has been placed under police custody pending further investigation.
Just four hours later in San Andres town, a crash involving three motorcycles on the national highway town left one dead and four injured.
According to the report sent by police chief Maj. Emsol Icawat, businessman Jessie Torreña Tapar, 59, of Cabugao, Bato, was driving a Honda XRM-125 motorcycle, with his wife Norma Traqueña Tapar, 58, as backrider, towards San Andres town proper at around 8:20 AM when it hit another motorcycle, a Euro 110 driven by Sarah Mae Flores Romero, 30, of Bigaa, Virac, that suddenly crossed the highway from the Timbaan intersection and turned left.
The motorcycle then hit another Honda XRM-125, driven by BFP San Andres personnel FO2 Rene Carlo Vista Molina, 38, with his eight-year-old son Miguel Carlos, both of Saint John Village, Calatagan Tibang, Virac, on the same lane.
All the injured, except for the boy who was rushed to EBMC, were brought by responding MDRRMO personnel to the Juan M. Alberto Memorial District Hospital where Norma Tapar was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Aly Romano.
The police said Jessie Tapar has no license to drive while his motorcycle as well as Romero’s vehicle did not have plate numbers.
About 17 hours later, at 12:15 AM the next day, Dec. 10, another accident involving motorcycles occurred at Antipolo del Sur, Virac, with one driver declared dead at the provincial hospital.
The initial report of the Virac police station stated that John Ingalla Maliñana, 23, and his student brother John Ivan, 22, both of Calampong, were on board a Honda TMX 155 and had just come from their ministry at the Members Church of God, International, in Lanao, when they were struck by another motorcycle coming from the other direction just as they rounded the sharp curve in front of the Antipolo del Sur barangay chapel.
The brothers’ motorcycle veered to the right and they crashed on the side of the road.
The other motorcycle, a Honda Click scooter driven by student Lorenz Angelo Alano, 19, of Cabihian, and with a 17-year-old student, also from Cabihian, skidded on the provincial road as the driver lost control and eventually fell to the pavement.
All four persons involved sustained serious injuries in various parts of their bodies, with the severely hurt Alano immediately brought by responding BFP and MDRRMO personnel to EBMC where the emergency room physician declared him dead a few minutes later due to severe head trauma.
The police report noted that Alano had no license to drive and was not wearing a helmet at the time.