A TRUCK helper and a student died while 11 others were injured after a van hit a parked truck loaded with empty bottles at Barangay Calumangan in Bago City, Negros Occidental Monday, November 5.
Killed were truck helper Rolando Limaco, 60, of Himamaylan City; and Jake Cabarles, 22, of Cauayan town, a student.
Wounded were truck driver Johnny Catanyag, 29, of Himamaylan City; and van passengers: Geofrey Bequiso, 27, of Sipalay City, a security guard; Janlery Cervo, 22, of Sipalay City; Rogelio Dionson, 52, of Cauayan town; Norma Tigbao, 47, of Sipalay City; Analyn Gerangis, 27, of Hinigaran town; Efren Generoso, 55, of Cauayan town; Mary Joy Cavica, 29, of Binalbagan town; and non-uniformed personnel (NUPs) B-Jay Bayoneta, 27, of Cauayan town, Eden Bito-on, 27, of Ilog town, and Grace Regalia, 29, of Himamaylan City.
The three NUPs are from police stations of Sipalay City, Kabankalan City, and Ilog town.
Senior Inspector Hercules Trigue Jr., deputy chief for administration of Bago City Police Station, said Catanyag parked his driven truck at the said area to replace a flat tire.
Limaco was helping him fix the tire when a van driven by 47-year-old Benjie Gamarza of Cauayan town hit the rear portion of the truck.
Gamarza had to swerve the van but still hit Limaco and Catanyag. Then the van went straight to a sugarcane plantation where it halted.
Cabarles, who was at the front seat of the van, and Limaco succumbed to severe injuries.
Both vehicles were heading to Bacolod.
Gamarza was unharmed.
The truck driver and the 10 passengers of a van sustained minor injuries and were brought to different hospitals in Bacolod City.
Trigue said Gamarza is detained at the police station. (GYM)