By Jennifer P. Rendon
A father and his son died after their sports utility vehicle (SUV) collided with a 10-wheeler wing van afternoon of June 29, 2021 in Dumangas, Iloilo.
Police identified the fatalities as Porferio Hermo Jr., 65, and his son, Joey Alison Hermo, both residents of Barangay Aurora del Pilar, Dumangas Iloilo.
Major Joven Arevalo, Dumangas police chief, said that the younger Delmo was driving the Isuzu MuX SUV when it collided with a Mitsubishi Fuso wing van along Sitio Katunggan, Barangay Bantud Fabrica, Dumangas around 3:20 p.m. Tuesday.
The wing van driven by Joey Patricio, 31, of Bangkal Maninang, Sapian, Capiz, came from the Dumangas Port and was heading to Iloilo City when the collision happened.
The victims were declared dead at the Ramon Duremdes District Hospital.
Arevalo said they are still investigating who was at fault for the collision.
There were no witnesses and police had only the statement of the van driver and his helper.
The Hermos allegedly came from Iloilo and were on their way home when the incident happened.
“When our investigators arrived, the truck was on its lane and the SUV had circled facing the Iloilo City route,” Arevalo said
Patricio insisted that he was on his lane and was not overspeeding when the incident happened.
He claimed that he was surprised when the MuX, which was allegedly running on high speed, encroached his lane. The collision happened before he could evade the other car.
Patricio was detained following the incident.
But Arevalo said he was released Wednesday afternoon after the reglementary period of detention lapsed and no charges were filed against him.
The Hermo family could still sue the truck driver.
