Couple dead, 14 injured in Negros road accidents

BY GLAZYL MASCULINO

BACOLOD CITY – A couple died while 14 others were injured in separate road accidents here and in Negros Occidental over the weekend.

In Murcia town, live-in partners Arnel Calalas, 27, and Jessa Laranio, 22 died while their son was injured after their motorcycle slammed into a truck at Hacienda Manuel Kho, Barangay Pandanon on late Sunday night.

Investigation showed that the victims were riding a motorcycle driven by Calalas on their way home when they crashed into the rear part of the truck driven by 19-year-old Hans Uyco of Don Salvador Benedicto town.

Police said that Calalas might have not seen the truck because it was raining and the area was dark.

The victims were brought to Murcia Health Unit, but the couple was pronounced dead on arrival, while their son sustained minor injuries.

The truck driver voluntarily surrendered to the police.

In Bago City, four persons on board an ambulance were wounded after the vehicle hit a dump truck at Barangay Calumangan on Saturday night.

Police identified the victims as ambulance driver Mauro Ramos, 59; attendant Mary Grace Gargarita, 44; eight-year-old male patient; and his father Jeffrey Cabus, 38. Police Staff Sgt. Ronald Javier, traffic investigator of Bago City Police Station, said the ambulance of Bago City District Hospital was supposed to bring the patient to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here when they figured in the accident.

Javier said the truck driven by 44-year-old Jonathan Ocquiola of Barangay Mansilingan here was slowing down to execute a left turn when the ambulance crashed into the truck.

Javier said Ramos was brought to a private hospital here subject for a leg surgery, while the three other wounded victims sustained minor injuries and were brought to CLMMRH here.

Javier said Ocquiola was released from police custody yesterday after the lapse of his 12-hour reglementary detention.

Meanwhile, nine persons were also wounded after two pick-up trucks figured in an accident along Rizal-Lacson Streets early Sunday morning, police said.