By JEN BAYLON

The collision of a motorcycle and a truck at Barangay Tampalon in Negros Occidental’s Kabankalan City on Saturday night, May 17, resulted in the deaths of a motorcycle rider and his two passengers.

The victims were identified as 26-year-old motorcycle driver Rico Ian Samanero and his passengers, 19-year-old Robin Causapin and 21-year-old Jomel Hamaybay — all residents of the city’s Barangay Tampalon.

The truck driver, 40-year-old Gerardo Makila III, was from Barangay Locotan.

Preliminary investigation by the Kabankalan police showed the motorcycle, descending a slope, crashed into the side of a truck that was traveling in the opposite direction at Crossing Cabanyohan around 9:00 p.m.

The victims were immediately rushed to the hospital.

Samanero and Hamaybay were declared dead on arrival, police said.

Minutes later, Causapin also succumbed to his injuries.

The city police suggest that the motorcycle riders may have been under the influence of alcohol, which possibly contributed to Samanero’s high-speed driving as they were heading home.

Meanwhile, Makila voluntarily surrendered to the police.

He is expected to face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, police said./JB, WDJ