Three killed, seven hurt in Pangasinan road crashes

DAGUPAN CITY -- Two motorcycle riders were killed while three others were wounded night of Jan. 5 in separate road crashes bringing to three the number of persons killed in Pangasinan and seven hurt since New Year’s Day

Ludy Fernandez, 26, of Bolinao, Pangasinan died after he was thrown off his motorcycle when it crashed after being struck by a large rock along the village road in Barangay Estanza in Bolinao town around 10:15 p.m.

Fernandez’s backrider, Rodolfo Organista, 67, was injured.

In Rosales town, traffic enforcer Jaime Lazaro of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija was killed when his motorcycle collided with a tricycle in Barangay San Angel at about 8:30 p.m.

His backrider, Maricel Bergonia, 35, and the tricycle driver, Ruben Dalit Jr., 28, were hurt.

Police said the collision took place after Lazaro overtook a passenger bus traversing the southbound lane of the road.

The impact threw Lazaro and Bergonia off the motorcycle, launching them towards the bus.

Bus driver Deo Bañaga, 31, is now under police custody.

Reports said Lazaro and Bergonia were on a motorcycle that collided with a tricycle driven by Dalit in Barangay San Angel, Rosales.

Lazaro reportedly overtook a bus driven by Deo Bañaga, causing him to hit the tricycle.

He was declared dead on arrival at the Rosales Infirmary.

Earlier on New Year’s Day, a 23-year-old man was killed while four others were injured on New Year’s Day when a speeding jeep plowed into a group of people crossing a road in Rosales, Pangasinan, police said.

Police said John Philip Pulido died while being taken to a hospital. Those injured were identified John Rey Edrada, 20, Charles Jemuel Portez, 18, Dondon Soriano, 16, and Garry Sumera, 37.

Police said the victims were on their way to the village hall of Barangay (village) Tomana West to watch a New Year’s Day party at 3:25 a.m. when the incident happened.

Sumera, a village watchman whose leg was fractured, told police that the jeep did not stop.

People in the area chased after the jeep but lost sight of it in neighboring Villasis town. – With a report from Cesar Ramirez