By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A pedestrian was killed after he was hit by a speeding motorcycle along the national highway early Thursday morning in Barangay Mabini, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the fatality as 26-year-old Nick Ropino a resident of the said area.

Also injured in the crash were Jomarie Digayo and Ma. Gelord Java, backriders of the said motorcycle, which was being operated by 24-year-old Robin Panugaling of La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

Traffic investigators from the Pulupandan Municipal Police Station said Ropino was about to cross the highway when he was hit by the motorcycle.

The force of the impact ejected the two backriders before the motorcycle crashed.

Local residents rushed all parties to the Valladolid District Hospital, where Ropino later succumbed to his injuries.

Both Panugaling and Digayo were transferred to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital for further treatment./DGB, WDJ