Three killed in road accident

POTOTAN, ILOILO, Philippines - Three persons were killed, two of them minors, when the motorcycle they were riding crashed into a parked 10-wheerer truck Tuesday evening at Brgy. Amamaros in this town.

The fatalities were: Leo Suel, 32, the motorcycle driver, his nephew Alvin Suel, 17, and John Paul Aniño, 15, all residents of Brgy. Cahaguichican of this town. They were rushed by a passing ambulance, which just came from the Iloilo Provincial Hospital to bring another patient. They were however declared dead on arrival due to multiple injuries.

Senior Insp. Lorenez Losaria, Pototan Police chief, said the victims apparently came from a drinking spree in the Poblacion. On their way home, several bystanders attested to have seen and heard the group shouting and laughing.

Freddie Pama, 40, of Brgy. Napnod, Leganes, Iloilo, was fixing his truck when the motorcycle smashed his parked vehicle from behind.

Investigators believed the three did not see the truck parked by the roadside, and even the early warning device that Pama said he had placed. "There was no skid mark. So, the (motorcycle) driver apparently failed to apply his brake," Losaria said.

Losaria described the motorcycle a total wreck that "no one would expect that someone could survive from the impact." The area was dimly-lit and none of the victims were wearing a crash helmet.

After the incident, Pama voluntarily surrendered to the police, but Losaria said it could not be determined yet if the truck driver could be held responsible for the death of the victims. "He just wanted to turn himself over to avoid the wrath of the family," he added.

Investigation further disclosed that the motorcycle has no registration plate. It was reportedly owned by a certain Sandy Aniño.