Bizwoman dies, 9 hurt in road mishap

A BUSINESSWOMAN died while nine others sustained injuries in a vehicular accident Monday night in Santa Fe town, Leyte.

Clotilde Astorga died on the spot when the passenger van they were riding hit a parked Isuzu cargo truck at Barangay Tibak, three kilometers away from the town proper of Santa Fe at 7 p.m.

Astorga, the president of the Barugo Food Delicacies Producers Association in Barugo town, was seated next to the driver of the passenger van, Jelson Obo.

Senior Police Officer 2 Cyril Tan, chief investigator of the Sta. Fe police said the victim was crushed to death from the impact.

Injured in the vehicular accident were: Fausto Panis; Joanna Rodriguez; Luisa Bareto; Jona Tan; Delia Laure; Nathaniel Saludario; Lorena Guantero; Ronnel Baldon; and Jovelyn Tenorio.

Astorga’s body was brought to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).

Also brought to the EVRMC were Guantero, Tenorio, and Laure for medical attention due to their sustained injuries while the rest of the victims only suffered minor contusions, Tan said.

Based on their initial investigation, the van was moving fast while traversing along Tibak. The van hit the cargo truck driven by Faustino Sonico, who was at the time fixing the vehicle’s signal lights, Tan said.

Obo surrendered to the police authorities and now detained at their lock up cell, Tan said.

Charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and multiple physical injuries were filed Wednesday against Jelson Obo before the regional prosecutors’ office. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)