Friday, October 17, 2008 Simala smashup By Mia E. Abellana Sun.Star Staff Reporter
A STUDENT was killed while three others are in a critical condition after an Isuzu Elf hit three motorcycles, two tricycles, a bystander and three stores in Barangay Simala, Sibonga.
Joanne Josue, 16, was declared dead at the Deiparine Medical Clinic in Poblacion, Sibonga, while Felix Repunte, Alina Gala and a still unidentified tricycle driver were transferred to the Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City.
Driver Julito Antone, 33, is now detained at the Sibonga Police Station.
Antone said he had just dumped waste materials from CP Kelco at a dumping site in Barangay Taloot, Argao.
When he reached the corner of the main highway and the barangay road leading to the monastery in Simala, a motorcycle driven by Repunte allegedly entered the highway.
Repunte and Gala came from the Holy Eucharist Monastery in Simala, where they gave offerings and lit candles.
PO1 Dandy Molo, desk officer of the Sibonga Police Station, said Antone was so startled that he failed to apply the brakes. He swerved to the left but hit the motorcycle driven by Repunte.
The vehicle continued to run and hit Josue, a freshman at the Sibonga Community College who was standing at the side of the road waiting for a ride, and a tricycle driver who was waiting for passengers.
It also damaged a sari-sari store owned by Stephen Miranda, an eatery owned by Ildefonso Cantel and a motorcycle spare parts shop owned by Erlinda Homecillo. Two motorcycles and another tricycle at the side of the road were also hit but its passengers were not harmed.
PO1 Molo said the intersection was usually full of vehicles and there were many minor vehicular accidents there. However, he said yesterday’s accident was the first to have caused much damage.
