Toledo accident injures 13 people

CEBU, Philippines -  Thirteen people were injured in a vehicular accident involving three vehicles early morning yesterday on the national highway in Sitio Kabulihan, Barangay Magdugo, Toledo City.

Most of the victims were passengers of the GT Express v-hire with license plate numbers GWW-474 driven by Pepito Pantallano, of Barangay Awihao, Toledo City.

Pantallano is reportedly in critical condition due to several injuries he suffered.

Also injured were Willy Salado, 21, and Vivian Yap, 50, both of Barangay Bato; Elvira Alipin, 27, of Barangay Magdugo; Abondio Alipin Jr., 31, of Barangay Matab-ang; Ivy Cristine Parahinog, 19, and Jophil Birbo, 34, both of Barangay Magsaysay; Gasuya Togo, 3, and Akira Togo, 66, both of Barangay Poblacion; Marcelino Adlawan, 35, of Barangay Daanglungsod; Francis Dimali, 29, of Barangay Subayon; and Ronilyn Maasin, 17, of Barangay Cambang-ug.

They were all taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for treatment.

A passenger of the tricycle, Jhenierose Barangan, 13, of the said barangay, also sustained minor injuries, but she was just taken to the municipal health clinic for first aid.

Now detained at the Toledo City police stockade is Raymundo Luaña, 47, of Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City, the driver of the Mitsubishi L200 pick-up with license plate numbers GSM-726.

Police are now preparing charges for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries and damage to property against Luaña.

PO2 Celso Makidato, traffic investigator, said the v-hire was heading towards Toledo City while the pick-up was traveling towards Cebu City when the incident happened.

Makidato told The FREEMAN the pick-up was traveling at high speed on a slightly curved portion of the road and encroached into the opposite lane where the v-hire was traveling.

He added that the pick-up failed to return to its lane causing a head-on collision with the v-hire. Due to the impact, the v-hire hit the tricycle driven by Isidro Ingaling, 43, of Barangay Magdugo.

“Naa ra na sa daplin ang tricycle unya tungod sa impact natumba na, maayo kay usa ra ang pasahero,” Makidato said in a phone interview.  - /BRP (FREEMAN)