Seaman, teacher killed in Alcoy road crash

CEBU, Philippines — A couple died in a vehicular clash involving a motorcycle and Ceres bus along the national highway of Barangay Atabay, Alcoy, Cebu yesterday afternoon.

The fatalities were identified by the police as Patrick John Rugas, 33, a seaman, and his wife Cheryll Rugas, 33, a teacher at Balud Elementary School in Dalaguete town. Both are residents of Balud.

Police Officer 1 Jeffrey Sevilla, traffic chief investigator of Alcoy Police Station, said the victims were on board a motorcycle to Dalaguete from Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental.

Allegedly, upon arriving at the aforementioned area, the motorcycle driven by Patrick slightly swerved to the opposite lane and was accidentally hit by the upcoming Ceres bus bound for Samboan driven by Renato Mojado, 41.

Sevilla said that because of the strong impact, the couple was thrown a distance away from the bus.

Both the victims were immediately brought to the nearest hospital but Sevilla said they were declared dead on arrival.

Mojado, on the other hand, is now under the custody of Alcoy police pending for filing of appropriate charges. —/JMD (FREEMAN)