Four dead, three hurt in motorcycle mishaps

Emergency responders attend to one of the two motorcycle riders who was killed in a road accident at Barangay Cabug, Bacolod City Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Police Station 9)

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

Four persons were killed and three were injured in separate incidents involving motorcycles in the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod on March 21, 2021.

The first incident in Iloilo City killed a husband while his wife was seriously injured after they got hit by an Elf truck around 4:15 p.m. in Arevalo district.

Reports claimed that Nestor Sumagaysay, 55, and his 51-year-old wife Lourdes of Barangay Lanit, Jaro, Iloilo were passing through the circumferential road at Barangay Sooc, Arevalo, when they got sideswiped by the truck driven by Victor Asentista.

Major Marlon Valencia, chief of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Section (TIES), said the 30-year-old Asentista, a resident of Barangay Buhang, Jaro, encroached the opposite lane and hit the motorcycle.

Nestor suffered multiple injuries on his body and fractured his leg. It was believed that he also suffered from cardiac arrest. Doctors had to amputate Lourdes’ left leg.

The couple allegedly came from a birthday party in Tigbauan, Iloilo when the incident happened.

Asentista voluntarily surrendered to police authorities.

Meanwhile, two motorcycles crashed against each other 8:50 p.m. of Sunday at Barangay Bita-og Taytay, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

The incident killed Micellany Cestallano, 45, of Barangay Dungon-C, Jaro, Iloilo City, and injured his companion, Judie Gabo, Jr., 28, of Barangay Madarag, San Enrique.

The suspect, 20-year-old Edcel Galgo of Barangay Oracon, Sibunag, Guimaras, was also wounded.

Major Raymond Celoso, Sta. Barbara police chief, said the victims came from Mandurriao, Iloilo City and were bound for San Enrique when the incident happened.

Galgo, who was drunk, allegedly encroached the opposite lane and crashed into Gabo’s motorcycle.

All three riders were thrown off their motorcycles because of the impact.

The trio was taken to the nearby Western Visayas Sanitarium, but Castellano did not survive as he succumbed to injuries on his head and other parts of his body.

Galgo is now on hospital arrest and would be charged for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries and damage to property.

In Bacolod City, two motorcycle riders were killed in a road accident at Purok Rose, Barangay Cabug here last Sunday.

Police identified the victims as Remy Christopher Bertolano, 26; and Julius Xander Urbano, 37, both residents of Barangay Handumanan here, who were cemetery workers.

Police Major Ritchie Gohee, head of Police Station 9, said the victims were allegedly speeding on their way home when they overshot a rough and dark portion of the road.

“May part abi sang dalan na rough road na, wala na nila ma control pag preno, nag tabog sila kay medyo dasig ila dalagan,” Gohee added.

Gohee said Bertolano was wearing a helmet but it was not able to protect him as he hit his face on the road.

“Daw ka nipis lang abi sang helmet niya,” he added.

Urbano suffered head injuries as he was not wearing a helmet, Gohee said. Both victims died on the spot.

Gohee said the victims came from Barangay Punta Taytay but didn’t know why they went there.

Gohee said they could not tell if the victims were under the influence of liquor unless they will be subjected to a test.