Two killed in road accidents in Naga and Borbon

CEBU, Philippines — Two people died and three others were injured in two separate road accidents in Naga City and Borbon, Cebu, yesterday, April 4, 2024.

In Borbon town, a taxi driver was killed when a canter van hit his vehicle, which he parked on the roadside around 7:30 in the morning.

The canter van, which was traveling from Cebu City to Bogo City, was driven by Mark Edward Maspara Abano, 36, a resident of Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.

The 41-year-old victim, who was identified as Junnel Arcilla Cahayagan, was cleaning the front windshield of his unit when the van hit his taxi.

Due to the impact, the victim and both vehicles landed on the open lot by the road.

The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but was declared dead on arrival.

In a phone interview with Police Captain Gerry Antopina, Officer-in-Charge of Borbon Municipal Police Station, he said that Cahayagan disclosed that he encountered a problem with his steering wheel, resulting in him hitting the parked vehicle.

Abano is currently detained at the said police station while waiting for the appropriate charges to be filed against him.

Meanwhile, Andrea Mananay, a resident of Toledo City, died after she attempted to jump off the bus, which reportedly had lost its brakes.

The bus was carrying at least 15 passengers and was driven by Derold Tajones Geraldez, 37, a resident of Lutopan, Toledo City.

The accident happened at 3:45 a.m. at Sitio Gaway-gaway, Uling, Naga City.

In a phone interview with Police Staff Sergeant Niel Villaceran of Naga City Police Station, he told The Freeman that the bus was traversing from Toledo City to Cebu City and upon reaching the area, the driver reportedly lost control of the bus and later hit a concrete fence.

Villaceran added that the driver tried to convince Mananay not to jump out of the vehicle after she possibly panicked when she learned that the bus had lost its brakes.

Mananay and three other passengers were rushed to the hospital but the former was declared dead on arrival.

The others injured were Eric Pondoy, 36; Laren Rebicoy, 30; and Violeta Garcia, 54.

The driver is currently detained at the police station, while charges against him are being prepared. — /ATO (FREEMAN)