By CYRUS M. GARDE
ESCALANTE City — A policeman from Jimalalud, Negros Oriental, died when the motorcycle he was driving collided head-on into a tricycle loaded with passengers in Purok High School, Brgy. Alimango here.
His son, who was riding in tandem with him, and eight others were injured.
SPO3 Roy Mendaros, 46, of Brgy. Bayoyo, Jimalalud, and a member of Jimalalud police was rushed to the Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial District Hospital here but died before arrival.
He succumbed to head and body injuries, which he acquired after the impact threw him off his Kawasaki motorcycle.
His son, 13-year-old Zaroh, was taken to the same hospital. His family later transferred him to Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital.
Others injured in Sunday’s accident were Jean Sagal, 28; Joselito Nardo, 17; Nida Lacera, 48; Cristine Villangel, 22; Esperanza Arterado, 54; Nelia Masillones, 44; and Isabel Pati-on, 56, all of Brgy. Old Poblacion here; and Nelson Arello Ardosa, 49, of EB Magalona town.
They were onboard the tricycle driven by Magdaleno Ogang, 48, also of Brgy. Old Poblacion. Ogang was unhurt.
Escalante City police investigator SPO1 Jerson Catubig said Mendaros was driving toward the city proper from Danao Port on the way to Jimalalud on Sunday noon.
Mendaros’ motorcycle, which had a deflated front tire, skidded and crashed into the tricycle heading toward the opposite direction, Catubig said.
He said Mendaros’ son noticed the flat front tire after they disembarked the roll-on, roll-off ship they rode from Tabuelan, Cebu, but the policeman ignored it.
Zaroh caution his father to slow down, but the victim kept speeding supposedly to reach the nearest air-pumping station, said Catubig.
Sunday is “market day” in this city. Those injured have come from the public market.
Mendaros and his son were from the policeman’s hometown of San Remigio, Cebu, to attend an annual fiesta.
Police found at the crash site two backpacks and Mendaros’ service firearm, a .9mm pistol, and turned them over to his family./PN
