By: Jennifer P. Rendon
TWO teenagers died after their motorcycle smashed into a bus in San Dionisio, Iloilo evening of Oct. 27, 2019.
The fatalities were identified as Ram Jordan, 18, of Barangay Bataan, and Ma. Michaela Angela Buga, 17, of Barangay Bagacay, San Dionisio.
The incident also injured Herson Patricio, 17, of Barangay Batuan and Jambi Purgalidad, 16, also of San Dionisio town.
The victims are all Grade 10 students of Carlos Lopez High School in Bagacay village.
Police Captain Rene del Castillo, San Dionisio police chief, said the victims came from a community dance and decided to call it a day around 11:30 p.m. Sunday.
Jordan was driving his own motorcycle and planned to drop off his classmates when the incident happened.
Del Castillo said the four were driving through Bagangay Tamangi when they were sideswiped by a Fuso truck running on the opposite direction.
Based on the skid marks at the scene of incident, del Castillo said the truck encroached the motorcycle’s lane.
Truck owner and driver Greg Baltero, 49, of Barangay Blasco, Pilar, Capiz, admitted that he dozed off while behind the wheel.
Alone, Baltero was on his way home after unloading sugarcane at Passi City, Iloilo.
Jordan and Buga did not survive while Patricio and Purgalidad are confined in a hospital in Iloilo City.
Patricio suffered injuries on his left leg and shoulder while Purgalidad was also wounded on the left leg.
Del Castillo said the families are presently talking with Baltero for a possible out-of-court settlement.