A criminology student and his 16-year-oldsister were killed while five others were injured after a motorcycle collided with a hearse transporting a casket along the national highway in Brgy. Iniban, Ayungon, Negros Oriental, on Wednesday night, Nov. 11.
The fatalities were identified as a 22-year-old criminology student of Negros College and his 16-year-old female back rider, a Grade 11 student and both were residents of Brgy. Iniban, the Ayungon police reported.
Police said the accident occurred at around 9:15 p.m. near the intersection of the Ayungon Firing Range.
Initial investigation showed that a gray Mitsubishi L300 van, used by Koinonia Funeral Homes to transport caskets, was traveling southbound from Tayasan toward Ayungon.
The motorcycle, a black Honda XRM 125, was traveling in the opposite direction when it allegedly swerved to the left and collided with the oncoming funeral vehicle.
Police said the impact caused the motorcycle and its two riders to be dragged by the van, which subsequently struck three pedestrians walking along the western side of the highway.
The pedestrians, identified as a 53-year-old woman, an 18-year-old man, and a 16-year-old girl, sustained abrasions and other injuries.
The 53-year-old hearse driver and his 26-year-old helper also suffered injuries in the collision.
Responding personnel found the damaged motorcycle underneath the funeral van on the western side of the highway.
Personnel of the Ayungon Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office transported the victims to Bindoy District Hospital for medical treatment.
However, the motorcycle driver and his teenage passenger were declared dead by the attending physician.
The five other injured individuals, including the three pedestrians and two occupants of the funeral van, received medical treatment.
Police said a case for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides and multiple physical injuries will be filed against the hearse driver, subject to further investigation and coordination with the families of the deceased.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision.*
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