BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – A teacher died while his backrider was injured when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a delivery van in Barangay Trapiche, Oton town around 3:40 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12.
The 24-year-old motorcycle driver was an instructor at the University of the Philippines Visayas – Miag-ao campus and a resident of Guimaras, while his backrider was a native of Palawan and a graduating student of the said school, according to the Oton police.
Police refused to name the victims as requested by their respective family.
Meanwhile, the driver of the van was identified as Jemon Capunay, a native of the province of Capiz but temporarily residing in Lapuz district, Iloilo City.
In an interview with Police Chief Master Sergeant Johannes Sorongon, Oton Municipal Police Station (MPS) investigator, he stated that the van came from Iloilo city and was going to the province of Antique while the motorcycle was on the opposite direction from Miag-ao town.
Based on the statement of Capunay, the motorcycle took over his lane and he even tried to avoid hitting the motorcycle.
A helmet was seen in the area but the police could not confirm whether it was worn or just got thrown during the crash.
As of this writing, the police are waiting for the decision of the victims’ families whether they will file a case against the driver of the van./PN
