Road accidents leave 4 dead

CEBU, Philippines — Four people died in separate accidents in the northern Cebu town of Consolacion and at the Transcentral Highway yesterday, Sept. 16.

The first incident happened in East Binabag, Barangay Tayud, Consolacion at around 8 a.m.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Sem Inehao, Consolacion Police Station desk officer, said initial investigation showed that one Lucy Leonelle Dingcong of Bagakay, Tayud was driving her Toyota Vios (GAR 6449) when she allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel.

As a result, the vehicle swerved and hit a post and then ran over Enelyn Panonciar, 51, of Tayud, who was just walking at the side of the road.

Inehao said Panonciar suffered grievous injuries, causing her immediate death.

Dingcong was placed behind bars after the incident but was released yesterday afternoon after she and Panonciar's family agreed to settle the matter amicably.

They agreed that Dingcong would shoulder all expenses related to Panonciar's death, including her final resting place.

Just around two hours later, three persons also died in an accident on Cebu Transcentral Highway at the West 35, Barangay Gaas, Balamban.

Authorities identified the fatalities as George Untalan, 54, of Paranaque City; Dominador Bragat, Jr., 34, of Villa Kalubihan, Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City; and one Kate Ponce, whose address was still being established as of press time.

Initial investigation by Balamban police led by Police Lt. Col. Glenn Hife showed that Untalan, who was riding a big bike, was on his way to Cebu City while Bragat, who was likewise riding a big bike with Ponce riding pillion, was driving at the opposite direction, when the incident happened around 10:15 a.m.

Balamban police said that that upon reaching the place of incident, at a curve and downhill portion of the road, Untalan allegedly counter-flowed to overtake a vehicle and drove smack into Bragat and Ponce.

The impact caused all three victims to land hard on the concrete road, resulting to serious physical injuries.

Responding rescuers rushed Untalan, Bragat, and Ponce to a hospital in Balamban but attending physicians declared them "dead on arrival."

Hife reminded everyone to be careful always when negotiating the Transcentral Highway and not make it a race track, especially that it is a public road and used by a lot of people. — (FREEMAN)