The driver of the tricycle involved in Friday’s collision with a van in Sagay City died while undergoing treatment, the police said Saturday, July 18.
The victim, identified only as alias “Rey,” 49, a resident of Brgy. Maquiling, was initially brought to the Lopez District Farmers Foundation Inc. Hospital in Sagay City before being transferred to Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City , where he was later declared dead by the attending physician.
The incident happened at around 10 a.m. on Friday, July 17, along the national highway in Purok San Roque, Brgy. Maquiling.
Police said the driver of the van, identified only as alias “Rolly,” 34, of Toboso, Negros Occidental, voluntarily surrendered at the Sagay Police Station and admitted that he was driving the vehicle involved in the crash.
Initial investigation showed that both vehicles were traveling in the same direction toward Sagay City.
Authorities said the tricycle attempted to make a left turn while the Toyota Hiace commuter van, carrying 17 passengers from Calatrava bound for the Sagay City Public Terminal, was simultaneously attempting to overtake, resulting in a collision.
Due to the impact, both vehicles swerved into the opposite lane and overturned on the road shoulder.
Police said the crash was attributed to the drivers’ miscalculation of distance and failure to exercise due precaution.
Twelve passengers of the van and the tricycle driver were injured in the incident.
The injured passengers were brought by personnel of the Sagay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to the Alfredo E. Marañon Sr. District Hospital for treatment, while five other passengers were unhurt and left the scene.
The van driver is now under police custody as the investigation and the filing of appropriate charges are underway.
Both vehicles sustained damages, although the total cost of the property damage has yet to be determined.*
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