A 17-year-old motorcycle rider was killed in a three-vehicle traffic accident at the national road in Brgy. Abu-abo, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 11.
The Murcia Municipal Police Station said the crash happened at around 4 p.m. and involved a Nissan Terra, an Isuzu Elf truck, and a Suzuki Smash motorcycle.
Police identified the Nissan Terra driver as a 57-year-old man from Barangay Singcang Airport, Bacolod City, while the Isuzu Elf was driven by a 27-year-old resident of Barangay Minapasok, Calatrava.
The motorcycle was driven by a 17-year-old minor from Brgy. San Miguel, Murcia, with two back riders, aged 21 and 17.
Police investigation showed that the Nissan Terra and Isuzu Elf were both traveling toward Bacolod City when the SUV slowed down after an unidentified motorcycle allegedly made a sudden left turn.
The Isuzu Elf, which was traveling behind, then collided with the left side of the Nissan Terra and swerved to the opposite lane.
The truck subsequently hit the oncoming motorcycle, causing it to crash on the roadside.
Police said the motorcycle driver and one back rider fell into a canal and sustained serious injuries, while the other back rider fell on the road and remained conscious.
The two back riders were rushed by ambulance to Riverside Hospital in Bacolod City for treatment and were reported to be in serious condition.
The motorcycle driver was declared dead by the attending physician at the Murcia Health Unit.*