BACOLOD City – A road mishap in Bago City has already claimed four lives, according to Police Senior Inspector Hercules Trigue, deputy police chief of Bago City.
The Monday morning incident involved a van that rammed into a cargo truck parked by the side of the road – the truck had suffered mechanical trouble and was being repaired.
The incident took place at Sitio Capayas, Barangay Calumangan in Bago City, Negros Occidental around 5:10 a.m. on Nov. 5.
Trigue initially identified two victims: Roland Dimacu, a helper of the cargo truck, resident of Barangay Su-ay, Himamaylan City; and Jake Cabarles, 22, a passenger of the Fuso van, of Daan Banwa, Barangay Inayawan, Cauayan town.
Two new deaths have been reported: Jerry Sumagaysay Catanyag, 29, the driver of the cargo truck who was first reported to have fled the scene but was discovered to have been brought to a nearby hospital; and Mary Joy Calumpeta Gabica, 29, a cashier, resident of Barangay San Gregorio, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental .
The other passengers who were injured are B-Jay Bayoneta, Eden Bito-on, Grace Regalia Camayra, Efren Generoso, Analyn Gerangis, Norma Tigbao, Rogelio Dionson, Jan Jery Cervo, and Goeffrey Bequiso. They were immediately brought to Bago City Hospital for medical treatment.
The van was driven by Benjie Gamarza of Barangay Bulata in Cauayan town in Negros Occidental, who survived the accident.
Trigue said that Gamarza may have fallen asleep while driving from Sipalay City to Bacolod City to crash into the rear portion of the cargo truck. After the collision, the van fell into the roadside canal in the area.
Police are still investigating if the van had the proper franchise to operate. Gamarza was detained at the Bago City custodial facility./PN
Mary Joy’s last name is Gabica, not Cavica