Ambulance with pneumonia patient hits, kills rider

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A motorcycle rider died after he collided with an ambulance carrying a pneumonia patient in Makato, Aklan.

Jorge Igcazensa Jr., 39, of Barangay Mantiguib, Makato, was declared dead on arrival at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo town.

Police Staff Sergeant James Padasas, Makato police investigator, said the incident happened around 8 p.m. on March 22, 2020 at Mantiguib village.

Village officials said they tried to warn the victim against crossing the road.

But Igcazensa, who was reportedly drunk, suddenly revved his bike and was hit by a speeding ambulance driven by Doroteo Estilloso, 55, of Barangay Cubay Norte, Malay town.

Estilloso was to transport a pneumonia patient from Malay town to Kalibo when the incident happened.

Padasas said the ambulance driver and patient were unscathed.

The driver left his driver’s license with the police and took the patient to the hospital. He later voluntarily surrendered to police authorities.

Meanwhile, Police Lieutenant Jose Iturralde, Makato police chief, said they have not received any information that the patient in the ambulance is a person under investigation (PUI) or person under monitoring (PUM) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

He said the Malay Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said the patient is suffering from pneumonia.

“According to the Malay MDRRMO, the person has no travel history (to infected areas),” he said.

But Iturralde said the Malay MDRRMO intends to check the person’s history of exposure to any individual who might have travelled to infected areas in recent weeks.