CEBU, Philippines - Three members of a family who were on their way for a vigil at a relative’s wake died after a taxi sideswiped them at 10 p.m. last Wednesday along Brgy. Mali-ao in Pavia, Iloilo.
The victims were identified as Cesar Prevendido, 48, and Jessie Marie Abrasoza, 10, both of Brgy. Salacay in Cabatuan, Iloilo; and Letecia Ollosa, 19, of Rizal IIawod St., also in Cabatuan.
Prevendido was declared dead on arrival at the hospital while Abrasoza and Ollosa died four hours later.
Pavia Police traffic investigator PO2 Victor Laña said five others were wounded, including tricycle driver Homer Gitang, but only one, 18-year-old Dayanara Prevendido remained confined at St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City and the rest were treated only for minor injuries.
Laña said Gitang was about to park his tricycle at the road shoulder to fix a flat tire, but a speeding taxi, named My Special Angel, came crashing into his vehicle.
The taxi, driven by Barney Basoltin, 32, of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, plowed the tricycle and shoved it 40 meters from its original position.
Basoltin, who was reportedly carrying a lone passenger, then sped off and surrendered to the Iloilo City Police Station 3 in Jaro district. (FREEMAN)