BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS and BY GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO City – Two people died and 17 others were injured in a freak accident involving a water tanker in Barangay Baldoza, La Paz district.
Oliver Embang Parreñas, 22, of Zone III, Barangay Baldoza, and a 14-year-old girl from Zone I, Barangay Baldoza were both declared “dead upon arrival” in a hospital around 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 11.
The water tanker lost its brakes and plowed a lechon stand, a bakeshop, a pharmacy, and a parked tricycle, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Ethan Estaya, chief of the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Unit (TIEU) of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
The tanker was driven by Danilo Mayo Dayon, 61, of Barangay Cagamutan Norte, Leganes, Iloilo. He is currently detained at the La Paz police station.
The initial accident injured lechon vendor Bonie De Los Reyes Parreño, 22, of Pototan, Iloilo, police said.
To clear the road around 6:04 p.m., rescue personnel Darryl Darwyin Thulasidas, 26, of Barangay South Fundidor, Molo district took over the water tanker’s steering wheel while it was being towed by a fire truck.
“Kay naka-engage ang gear sang water tanker, pagbutong nag-start ang salakyan kag amo to nadalasa niya ang mga bystanders sa palibot,” said Estaya.
Suddenly surging forward and disengaging with the fire truck, it hit two tricycles, two motorcycles and 16 more individuals.
Thulasidas, who was in a state of shock, has been placed under hospital arrest, said the TIEU chief.
The 16 others who sustained injuries were:
* Charito Marie Sumagpao, 24, of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, a DYFM Bombo Radyo Iloilo reporter (head injury)
* alias “Mark”, 10, of Barangay Baldoza (right leg abrasions)
* alias “Faith”, 11, of Barangay Baldoza (bruises on right lower leg and pain on right ankle)
* alias “Michelle”, 13, of Barangay Baldoza (swelling on both feet)
* alias “Nicole”, 13, of Barangay Baldoza (head wound)
* alias “Princess”, 13 (left leg injury)
* alias “Joy”, 15, of Barangay Baldoza
* alias “Ana Mae”, 15 (bruises on different parts of the body)
* Jun Mark De La Cruz, 37, of Barangay Baldoza
* Loreto Clamor Jr., 30, of Barangay Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental
* Helen Galvez, 63, of Barangay Baldoza (pain on her left hip and left elbow)
* Police Staff Sergeant Ricky Denila Ardamoy, 39, of Barangay Caingin, La Paz, traffic investigator (swelling of right shoulder and elbow bruises)
* Emely Anacan, 51 (head injury)
* Delia Ungsod, 46 (injury to her right lower extremities)
* Miguel Jazmine, 65, of Barangay Baldoza (head wound)
* Rica Jane Ungsod, 19, of Barangay Baldoza (hematoma on right leg)
As of this writing, the TIEU chief said some of the victims were already discharged from the hospital.
The authorities were waiting for the victims’ decision on whether to press charges, Estaya added.
City gov’t assures aid to victims
Meanwhile, the city government assured the victims of assistance.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas himself apologized on behalf of the city government after one of the involved was a driver assigned under the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
“I condole with those who passed away due to the accident during the rescue of the water tanker. The city will look for ways to assist their families together with those who were hospitalized. I apologize on behalf of the city,” said Treñas.
After the incident, the city mayor instructed the concerned offices of the city government especially the CDRRMO under its head, Donna Magno, to come up and establish standard operating procedures to avoid similar incidents.
“May ara na ako instruction kay Donna nga we come up with standard operating procedures sa mga amo ni nga mga bagay,” said Treñas as he assured his continued support to the CDRRMO and all their efforts to improve their services.
The city mayor also assured support to the CDRRMO driver who was also hospitalized. He further explained that the driver was only there supposedly to also help in the rescue.
“Aksidente na, waay man naton napangayo. We have to assure the victims that we are ready to spend for all the expenses kag sa iban pa nga mga kinahanglanon, especially sa mga nagtaliwan,” he added./PN
