8 die in road mishaps

GUMACA, Quezon, Philippines  – Four persons died and two others were injured when the car they were riding collided with a truck along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Panikihan here yesterday.

The fatalities were Rozalie Soldevilla 35; Raquel Soldevilla, 42; Rodolfo Soldevilla, 70, and Joseph Dumlao, 33. They were pronounced dead on arrival at the Gumaca District Hospital.

Gumaca police chief Maj. Rodelio Calawit said Roxanne Soldevilla, 25, and truck driver William Pelareja, 34, were injured.

According to a police report, an Isuzu truck driven by Pelareja was traversing Maharlika Highway going to Manila when it veered to the opposite lane and crashed into a car driven by Dumlao.

Four motorcycle riders died in separate accidents in Cagayan and Ilocos Sur.

Imelda Bustamante, 48, died when her motorcycle crashed into a ricefield in Barangay Lakambini, Tuao, Cagayan.

Joseph Corpuz died after he was ran over by a truck when he fell from his motorcycle after hitting a stray dog in Barangay Libertad.

Truck driver Abel Agustin, 26, is being held by police on charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

In Ilocos  Sur, Radolfo Dalit and Efren Jimenez died after they figured in separate motorcycle accidents.

Meanwhile, a village chief survived a gun attack while two others were wounded in Ibaan, Batangas.

Kevin Palma, 27, chairman of Barangay Lapu-Lapu, was drinking with his companions when two men on a motorcycle fired at them, Capt. Hazel Luma-Ang Suarez, spokesperson for the Batangas police, said.