By CESAR JOLITO III

A patient and a staff member died after an ambulance crashed into the roadside along the national highway at Barangay Recreo in Negros Occidental’s Pontevedra town on Wednesday afternoon, April 8.

Police identified the fatalities as 70-year-old patient alias “Daliaq,” and 30-year-old ambulance staff member “Peter.”

Both were declared dead on arrival at a hospital.

Injured in the incident were village chief Stephen Peñonial of Barangay Sebucauan, who was driving the ambulance, and the patient’s watcher, identified as “Maria,” 50 years old.

The two survivors are currently undergoing medical treatment.

Initial investigation by the Pontevedra Municipal Police Station revealed that the ambulance was en route from Isabela town to Bacolod City amid heavy rainfall when the driver allegedly braked suddenly to avoid a tricycle ahead.

The abrupt maneuver reportedly caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, leading to a collision with a roadside post in Purok Biante.

Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash, while the condition of the injured victims continues to be monitored./CJ, WDJ