A boy takes a look at the vehicle that lost control causing the death of three persons in Barangay Tubigan, Initao, Misamis Oriental, on Saturday, Dec. 1. (Jigger J. Jerusalem/davaotoday.com)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The local government of Initao, Misamis Oriental has appealed to the Department of Public Works and Highways-10 (DPWH-10) to hasten the construction of an additional lane along the national highway in said town after three persons were killed in a vehicular accident on Saturday night.
Police identified the victims as Maria Theresa Zaragosa, 48; Rosa Apag, 55; and Gilberto Apag. The survivors were the 17-year-old driver and one Ermilinda Vente, 56.
The vehicle, a Mitsubishi Estrada pick-up truck, was registered to a certain Edgardo Zaragosa of Purok Lerio, Barangay Acmac, Iligan City.
Police said Maria Theresa was the truck owner’s wife and the driver was her son.
PO3 Francis Dadole, Initao police traffic investigator, said the victims came from the airport in Laguindingan town to see someone off and were on their way to Iligan.
Passing through the town’s forested area in Barangay Tubigan, the driver tried to overtake a Toyota Innova but attempted to go back to his lane when he saw a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, said Dadole.
He said the driver overestimated his turn and drove into an excavated part of the highway and rammed into an acacia tree. A witness who lived nearby, Peterson Agan, said the truck was probably speeding at about 120 to 130 kilometers per hour.
“The impact was so strong. We heard something crashed so loud. But it was dark. There was a power outage at the time,” Agan said.He added that due to the impact, three passengers on the back seat were all thrown to the front seat.
Initao Mayor Enerito Acain V has called on the DPWH-10 and the project’s contractor to fast track the construction of the extra lane to avoid another loss of life due to vehicle accident.
“It’s not impossible that what happened will be repeated. But we will not allow it to happen,” Acain said. Acain added he sees no reason for the delay since the concreting of the road is the easiest part of the project.
Dadole, meanwhile, said motorists must be extra cautious when traveling especially at night. (davaotoday.com)
