By Jennifer P. Rendon
A family of three died in a vehicular accident on the evening of November 9 in San Dionisio, Iloilo.
Artemis Arabe, 64; his common-law wife, 58-year-old Rosemarie; and their daughter, Angelie Arabe, 15, all residents of Barangay Cubay, San Dionisio, were killed after their motorcycle was struck from behind by a Toyota Hi-Lux pickup truck.
The victims were on their way to Estancia town to attend a relative’s wake when the incident occurred.
The crash happened around 7:10 p.m. in Barangay Canas, San Dionisio, when a speeding pickup truck collided with their Kawasaki Bajaj CT 100 motorcycle.
Captain Edward Villanis, San Dionisio police chief, said the driver of the pickup truck, 26-year-old Tomy of Barangay Poblacion Ilaya, Calinog, Iloilo, claimed he did not realize he had hit the victims.
The impact dragged the victims 100 meters from the point of collision.
None of the victims were wearing helmets.
They were taken to Sara District Hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival.
Another vehicle, a Suzuki Smash motorcycle traveling in the opposite lane, was also hit by the trio’s motorcycle.
Bonna Jean Alvaro, 32, of Barangay Pinantan, Ajuy, Iloilo, fell and was initially reported to have sustained minor injuries.
She went home after receiving first aid treatment.
Villanis said they later received a report that Alvaro was taken to The Medical City in Iloilo City after she complained of pain in three fingers on her left hand.
Reports indicated that Tomy, a businessman involved in quarry operations, fled the scene due to fear of being mobbed.
He drove to Batad town and left his vehicle at a friend’s house before surrendering to the police.
Villanis said the victims’ family has expressed their intent to pursue criminal charges against the suspect.
