Cop, 2 others die in road mishaps

CEBU, Philippines - Three people including a policeman died while four others were injured in three separate vehicular accidents in Metro Cebu.

Police Officer 2 Ivan Ray Juarez, 34, died of severe head injury after his Mitsubishi Lancer rammed into an electric post along the national highway in Sitio Pungtod, Barangay Calajo-an, Minglanilla yesterday dawn.

Juarez, assigned in Naga City Police Station, was on his way home to Barangay Dumlog, Talisay when he met his tragic end. Juarez was declared dead on arrival at the Minglanilla District Hospital where he was brought by the people who rescued him.

Police Officer 2 Edsel Ricablanca of the Minglanilla Police Station said the victim allegedly went out of his lane towards the opposite direction before hitting the electric post.

Because of the impact he was pinned inside his car which was also severely damaged. In fact, it took more than 30 minutes for rescuers to get him out of the car.

Ricablanca suspects that Juarez possible fell asleep while driving since there was no skid marks found on the road showing that he tried to apply brakes.

“Possibleng nakatulog siya kay kadlawon man iyang off, duka na tingale ni siya kaayo,” Ricablanca said.

Police Officer 1 Junaierie Latorre, desk officer on duty of Naga Police Station, said Juarez was acting unusually since Monday.

“Hilomon na siya pero kalit lang nasabaan nga di man gyud na siya ingon ana,” Latorre said.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador assured that Juarez’s family will get all his benefits.

In another accident, a 52-year-old woman died after she fell and banged her head on the pavement when a PUJ rammed into the motorcycle she was riding with in Barangay Kamputhaw Monday evening.

Vevencia Catacutan died because of head injury while her son Joselito, 29, who drove the motorcycle, daughter Shiela Mae, 13 and son Luigi, 8, including her one-year-old granddaughter were also injured.

PUJ driver Lariano Belono, 62, resident of Barangay Ilaya, Dumanjug, claimed he was bound for Lahug when the motorcycle of the victims overtook him. Belono said he tried to apply brakes but it was too late.

The barangay tanods of Kamputhaw responded to incident and placed Belono under arrest. He was later released after the victims expressed no interest to file a criminal complaint.

The operator of the PUJ however agreed to bear the hospital bills including the burial expenses. Another bike crash last Monday afternoon has claimed the life of Edilberto Cañada, 31, of Barangay Poblacion I Carcar City.

Cañada was driving his motorcycle along the national highway in Barangay Bolinawan when he met the accident. The victim reportedly lost control of his motorcycle. –(FREEMAN)