2 men killed in road accidents

CEBU - A motorcycle-driving man who tried to avoid hitting another man in the street instead met his untimely death.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office said Servillo Ariate, 59, was on his way home to barangay Poog, Toledo City near midnight Friday when a drunk man, later identified as Jose Deiparine, 49, suddenly crossed the street. 

In an effort not to hit Deiparine, Ariate reportedly applied his breaks but the sudden impact instead threw him off his motorcycle, landing head first to the pavement. His helmet reportedly slid off his head before he hit the ground.

Ariate was rushed to the Toledo District Hospital but he died thereafter due to severe head injuries. He worked as a driver at the newly-opened Carmen Copper Corporation, the former Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation.

Deiparine, on the other hand, only suffered minor injuries.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Reman Colina of Subangdaku, Mandaue City died on the spot when his motorcycle rammed into a multicab parked along the access road to the Cebu Business Park shortly before midday yesterday.

Investigation showed that Colina was driving from Mandaue City to Cebu City when he attempted to overtake a public utility jeepney at the Ayala access road in sitio Panagdait, barangay Mabolo.

He, however, did not see the Suzuki multicab parked along the road and was already too late to avoid it.

He died due to severe injuries on his head and other parts of the body. His remains now rest at the Margaret Funeral Homes in Cebu City. 

The Land Transportation Office recently renewed the strict enforcement of the helmet law, which is being met by oppositions in certain parts of the country like in Dumaguete City, the so-called bike capital of the country.

Studies have shown that helmets greatly prevent the risk of head injuries during accidents, but others view such as a means for criminal elements to hide their faces.  — Ferliza C. Contratista and Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)