BACOLOD City – Two were killed and eleven injured in a road mishap in Sitio Capayas, Barangay Calumangan, Bago City on Monday morning.
The 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.
Police Senior Inspector Hercules Trigue, deputy police chief of Bago City identified the victims as Roland Dimacu, a helper of the cargo truck; and Jake Cabarles, 22, a passenger of the Fuso van.
Eleven other passengers were injured. They were identified as Bjay Bayoneta, Eden Bito-on, Grace Regalia Camayra, Mary Joy Cavira, Efren Generoso, Analyn Gerangis, Norma Tigbao, Rogelio Dionson, Jan Jery Cervo, Johnny Catanyag, 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 bump 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
