Two die, 22 injured in separate road mishaps

Three persons were killed and 22 others were injured in a series of traffic accidents that occurred in Metro Manila on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, police reports said.

Among those killed was a 37-year-old policeman, who was ran over by a speeding van in Quezon City yesterday. Among those injured was Vittorio "Oyo Boy" Sotto, son of showbiz personalities Vic Sotto and Dina Bonnevie, who figured in a road accident inside the University of the Philippine’s campus in Quezon City.

In Makati City, one person was killed while 15 others were injured when a passenger jeepney and a car collided at an intersection yesterday. The incident took place at the intersection of J.P. Rizal and Nicanor Garcia streets around 6:30 a.m. yesterday.

The two vehicles involved in the incident were a public utility jeepney plying the Ayala Avenue-Washington route and an orange Honda Accord sedan.

Killed in the incident was PUJ driver Marino Bacsarga. The passenger jeepney was carrying 12 passengers, all of whom were injured.

In Caloocan City, one person was killed while three others were seriously injured after a speeding vehicle hit them on New Year’s Eve in Caloocan City.

The fatality was identified as Mario Mariano, of 180 PNR Compound, Samson Road. He died after he was dragged some 20 meters away by the speeding car.

Still in critical conditions at the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital are Major Lee Valencia, 9; Irene Rico, 25; and Allan Montalban, 22, all residents of 98 Samson Road, Caloocan City.

Policemen are now looking for the driver of the "killer vehicle" with license plates PPG 932.

Police probers theorized that the driver of the speeding car was either under the influence of liquor or high on drugs.

In Quezon City, PO3 Orlando Hevara was ran over by a speeding Toyota Revo early yesterday morning while he was crossing a street in Quezon City after celebrating the New Year.

Hevara, stationed at the City Hall detachment office, sustained bone fractures in the head and body and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Delos Santos Medical Center. Reports showed that the incident occurred at about 12:10 a.m. along E. Rodriguez Avenue near Barangay Damayan Lagi, Quezon City.

Meanwhile, Oyo Boy Sotto and three other persons were injured after their vehicles collided inside the UP Diliman campus in Quezon City on New Year’s Eve.

Sotto, of 314 San Antonio St., Ayala-Alabang Village, Muntinlupa suffered minor injuries and was brought to the St. Luke’s Medical Center for treatment. The other victims, Vicente Zareno, 37, Jesus Malate, 32, and Abelardo Dehardo, 51, all of UP campus, were taken to the university’s infirmary.

Zareno, who was driving the jeep, was transferred to the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) for an ear injury.

Malate and Dehardo sustained abrasions and contusions in the body and have been discharged from the infirmary.

Initial reports showed that the incident happened at around 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Osmena and Roces Avenues, near the College of Engineering building. – Marvin Sy, Nikko Dizon, Matthew Estabillo and Jerry Botial