2 die, 1 hurt in Ilocos Sur road accident

By Freddie Lazaro

SANTIAGO, Ilocos Sur – Two persons died and another was hurt when a truck accidentally hit a tricycle parked on the curb of the national highway here in Barangay Busel-busel on Tuesday.

Lt. Carlos Mamitag, Santiago town’s chief of police, identified the slain victims as June Darele Galanote, 42, the tricycle driver and resident of Barangay Busel-Busel, Santiago, Ilocos Sur; and Walter Abad Fontanilla, 47, a resident of Barangay Bigbiga Santiago, Ilocos Sur. Both victims were reportedly Small Town Lottery (STL) agents in the town.

The injured victim was identified as Glenn Basis Manzano, 27, truck helper and resident of Barangay Balingaoan, Candon City.

Investigation disclosed that the accident occurred at 4:25 p.m. when the truck driven by Reynald Necor Manzano, 35, a resident of Barangay Balingaoan, Candon City, lost control and bumped a pedestrian and the tricycle that was parked at the right shoulder of the national highway.

The driver, pedestrian and the passenger of the truck were hurt and were rushed to the Candon General Hospital, Candon City for medical treatment, but Galanote and Fontanilla were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Police said charges were already filed in the prosecution office against the truck driver, who voluntarily surrendered after the accident.