By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least four people are confirmed dead, while three others were injured, following separate road accidents in Negros Occidental over the weekend.

Police identified the fatalities as Anthony Ceasar Depamaylo, Mark Asis, and Michael Umandac, all residents of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental; and Charlie Mendoza, a resident of Bago City.

The injured were identified as Crismar Dorias and Elmer Canillada of Cadiz City; and Melba Mendoza of Bago City.

According to reports released yesterday by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), around 11:30 p.m., Umandac was operating a motorcycle along the national highway in Barangay Daga, Cadiz City, when he collided with Depamaylo’s motorcycle while the former was attempting to overtake a tanker truck.

The impact instantly killed Umandac, Depamaylo, and Asis, who was reportedly Depamaylo’s back-rider.

Meanwhile, in Bago City, Charlie was instantly killed after he was crushed by his tricycle, following a collision at Purok Kamatis in Barangay Sampinit, Saturday.

According to Bago City traffic investigators, Charlie, along with his wife, Melba, and their three children, stopped along the right lane in order to make a turn towards Barangay Busay, when they were struck by a speeding sedan driven by 53-year-old Joseph Daymuto.

The force of the impact pushed the tricycle into the opposite lane, causing it to be hit again by a government-owned sports utility vehicle driven by 63-year-old Carlito Hipolani.

The resulting second impact pushed the tricycle into an irrigation ditch, and pinning Charlie inside the tricycle.

The other passengers, including his wife, managed to escape.

Both Daymuto and Hipolani surrendered to Bago City police following the incident./DGB, WDJ