By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least one person was killed while another was seriously injured after a van operated by a well-known hotel in Bacolod City slammed into a parked tricycle yesterday morning along Access Road in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the fatality as 71-year-old Edgar Panes, a tricycle operator and resident of Barangay Zone 15 of the said city. The injured was identified as 50-year-old Hernanie Dullar, also a resident of Barangay Zone 15.

Based on investigation carried out by Talisay City police, the van, which was driven by 35-year-old Paul Pentillo, made a right turn to Access Road from Lacson Street and was heading to Bacolod-Silay Airport to pick up a passenger.

Pentillo then slammed into Panes’ parked tricycle.

Witnesses said Panes stopped and was chatting with Dullar, who was removing grass and weeds in the area. The force of the impact damaged the front part of the van, while the tricycle was totally wrecked and almost unrecognizable.

Both Panes and Dullar were rushed to a private hospital in Bacolod City for treatment, although Panes succumbed to his injuries.

Pentillo was taken into custody by police shortly after the accident./DGB, WDJ