By Jennifer P. Rendon
A 19-year-old teenage girl died after the motorcycle she was riding crashed in Igbaras, Iloilo morning of July 23, 2023.
Zinah Galang, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, succumbed to head injuries.
She was rushed to Rep. Pedro Trono Memorial District Hospital in Guimbal town but was declared dead on arrival.
While Galang did not survive, her boyfriend, Emmanuel Salazar, 19, also a resident of San Isidro, Jaro, only suffered scratches on his legs and arms.
Lieutenant Martin Pugales, Igbaras police chief, said the couple, along with some friends, went camping at Dayhag Overlooking Campsite in the hinterland village of Igcabugao, Igbaras.
They arrived Friday and packed up Sunday morning. They were on their way home when the incident happened.
They were on a downhill portion of Barangay Passi when Salazar may have lost control of the bike and crashed.
Galang was thrown around 3 meters from the motorcycle and hit her head on a roadside rock.
Pugales said she was wearing a half-face helmet while her boyfriend was wearing a full-face protective helmet.
It was surmised that Salazar was unable to control his speed and overshot a curve on a downhill approach.