A SOLDIER died and two civilians were injured when two motorcycles collided along the highway in Zamboanga del Sur before dawn Tuesday, March 19.

Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the fatality as Abdurakim Hammisani, 43, a member of the Philippine Army and a native of Jolo, Sulu.

Those injured were Julito Escalante, 26, a sales boy, and his back rider, Kristene Vellagonzalo, 24, a merchandiser.

Galvez said Hammisani was driving a motorcycle towards Tigbao while Escalante, also driving a motorcycle with Vellagonzalo as his back rider, was traveling to Pagadian City when they collided head on at about 2:20 a.m. Tuesday in the village of Camanga, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.

The three were rushed to the Zamboanga City Medical Center but Hammisani, who had sustained a severed head injury, died along the way. Escalante and Vellagonzalo were hospitalized. (Bong Garcia)