An employee of the Virac municipal government was killed last week when his motorcycle veered off its lane and collided with another motorcycle driven by a 15-year-old student along the national highway.
The Virac police station identified the fatality as one Ernesto Plaza Makiling, 44, a driver at the municipal engineering office and resident of Palta.
He was declared dead on arrival at the Eastern Bicol Medical Center by Dr. Jefferson Espinola due to traumatic brain injury.
The report stated that at around 1:10 AM of Oct. 26, 2024 along the main road in barangay Valencia, Makiling was driving a Yamaha RS 110 from the población to his home when he encroached on the left lane and hit the Honda Click scooter driven by the student, who was also hospitalized for injuries to the body.
Personnel of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Emergency Rescue Unit responded to the incident and brought both drivers to the provincial hospital.
The report, which attributed the accident to reckless driving, did not clarify if Makiling and the other driver were under the influence of alcohol or wearing safety helmets.
A source told the Tribune, however, that Makiling was driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor, having attended a weekly drinking session with fellow employees.