By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA
A motorcycle driver died while three others were injured in a multiple vehicular accident along Araneta Street in Bacolod City’s Barangay Sum-ag on Sunday, May 31.
The fatality was identified as Joshua Gil Suarez, a resident of Barangay Tabun-ac in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town.
Injured were 69-year-old Alfredo Chua, Jr. and 70-year-old Alicia Chua, both residents of Barangay Villamonte in the city, as well as 31-year-old Mark Angelo Vacaro, from Bago City.
Traffic Management Unit chief, Police Major Elmer Bonilla, said Suarez, who was driving his motorcycle, was traveling along Araneta Street around 12:20 p.m.
Suarez suddenly swerved to the left side of the road to overtake a vehicle ahead, but he crashed into a vehicle driven by Chua.
They were traveling in the opposite direction and occupying the inner lane.
Due to the strong impact, he added that Suarez was thrown in a distance and subsequently collided with another vehicle, driven by Vacaro, who was traveling behind him.
Suarez sustained serious injuries and was brought to South Bacolod General Hospital, but he did not survive.
Bonilla said Alfredo Chua and Vacaro also voluntarily surrendered to Police Station 9 and were released yesterday after the lapse of the 18-hour reglementary period.
He said that a settlement had already been reached between the victim’s family and the drivers of the two vehicles.
Handling not precise?
Moreover, Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered Dr. Maria Laarni Pornan, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) head, to hold a meeting with the barangays to check their personnel who are handling their ambulances.
This, as Gasataya saw a video on social media showing how the rescuers handled the victim in the said accident, which was allegedly not precise.
Gasataya said the barangays should ensure that all personnel assigned to rescue operations should be equipped with all skills needed to ensure the safety of the patients.
“The DRRMO, along with the barangays, should ensure that personnel assigned to their ambulances undergo the necessary training to prevent similar incidents from occurring,” he said./MAP, WDJ