Priest dies, another hurt in road mishaps

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines —A Catholic priest died while his assistant was injured in separate vehicular accidents in Eastern Samar on Tuesday afternoon.

Fr. Moises Campo, parish priest of Guian, was traveling at past 2 p.m. in Barangay Naparaan in nearby Salcedo town when his vehicle collided with a truck loaded with construction materials.

Campo died at the scene, probers said, adding they have yet to identify and arrest the truck driver who fled after the accident.

An hour later, Campo’s assistant figured in another car accident in nearby Barangay Anuron Mercedes.

Firefighters and members of a local rescue team pulled out Fr. Edmel Raagas from his car that caught fire after it crashed into a power post at around 3:30 p.m.

Raagas suffered burns in the body and was brought to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The priests were on their way home from a religious meeting in Borongan City.

Meanwhile, a businessman died while his companion was injured after their  sport utility vehicle fell off a bridge in Ilagan City, Isabela on Wednesday. 

Probers said Timothy James Gomez could have lost control of the wheel as he was negotiating a curve in Barangay Marana 3rd at around 1:45 a.m.

The vehicle rammed road barriers and a tricycle before it rolled off the bridge.

Gomez was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in Ilagan City, where his companion Kim Patrick Elipane, 22, was also brought for treatment. - Raymund Catindig