By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Three individuals, including a police officer, were injured Thursday night after a truck collided with a police vehicle at Sitio Ubas in Escalante City’s Barangay Mabini.
Police identified the injured as Police Master Sgt. Joy Malaque of the Toboso municipal police; along with Jotham Villaflor and Onyl Maglasang, both employees and residents of Toboso.
Information provided by the Escalante City Police Station said the truck, driven by 22-year-old Jobert Gabas, was traveling to Escalante City proper and, upon reaching a descending curve, the truck overshot the lane and struck Malaque’s police vehicle.
Gabas immediately exited his vehicle and ran into a nearby sugarcane plantation following the incident.
The three victims were later rushed to the Vicente Gustilo District Hospital for treatment, with the two civilians later discharged after receiving treatment.
Gabas, meanwhile, surrendered to Escalante City police on Friday morning.
Upon questioning, he claimed to have abandoned his vehicle out of fear after he realized he had struck a police vehicle.
It was also determined the driver was inebriated at the time of the accident and was driving too fast.
Gabas faces charges for physical injuries and damage to property, and is detained at the Escalante City Police Station./DGB, WDJ