By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A sports utility vehicle (SUV) driver was killed in a head-on collision with a bus along the national highway at Barangay Pilar in Negros Occidental’s Hinigaran town late Wednesday night, May 31.

Police identified the fatality as 31-year-old Jennybert Valois Eliver of Binalbagan town’s Sitio Rosario.

Traffic investigators from Hinigaran police station said the bus, driven by 51-year-old Rene Pacheco Gonzales, was heading south towards Kabankalan City, while the SUV was heading north towards Hinigaran town proper.

Gonzales told police he saw the SUV moving erratically on the road and suddenly came into his lane.

He tried to stop the bus, as he saw Eliver returning to the opposite lane, but it was too late.

The SUV ended up in a sugarcane field after flipping over, while the front part of the bus was heavily damaged due to the impact.

Eliver, Gonzales and his three passengers were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The SUV driver was dead on arrival.

Gonzales is currently under the custody of Hinigaran police./DGB, WDJ