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Six killed, nine hurt in Negros Oriental road crash
DUMAGUETE CITY - Six people were killed while nine others were injured after a V-hire van collided with a cargo truck in Barangay Mayabon, Zamboanguita town in Negros Oriental Friday morning.
Most of the casualties were students from Basay National High School in southern Negros Oriental, who were on their way home from Cebu City after participating in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) regional Math Sayaw dance competition there.
Five of the fatalities were students: 17-year-old sisters Cherry Rose and Cherry Ann Kadusale, 14-year-old Kevin Aguilar, 17-year-old Christian Buenconsejo, and 18-year-old Joshua Busmeon.
Another yet unidentified woman from Bayawan City was also killed in the accident.
Among those injured were the five victims’ teammates, including their teacher John Mark Prestin. They were: James Bagarinao, 18; Elmar Toquero, 17; Justine Generoso, 18; Willie CJ Chua, and Jessie May Cabanal, 18.
According to a report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali Weekend on Saturday, four injured people were in critical condition.
Initial investigation by the Zamboanguita Police showed that the V-Hire, driven by a JP Sarad, was allegedly speeding southward along the Negros South Road early Friday morning when it started swerving, reportedly due to the slippery road brought by rain.
Upon seeing the van losing control, cargo truck driver Elpidio Delos Santos tried to stop to avoid the incoming V-hire which was already skidding down the opposite lane. As a result, the V-hire’s right side was severely damaged due to its impact with the truck.
All the passengers were brought to two hospitals in Dumaguete City for treatment, but six of them were already pronounced dead on arrival.
Case investigator Police Master Sergeant Janice Eluna said the accident may have been caused by the V-Hire’s worn rear tires that lost traction with the wet slippery road, a factor that Sarad acknowledged.
Sarad told reporters that before the trip, he already noticed the vehicle’s worn tires, but he was allegedly told to continue driving anyway.
“Madala pa man daw ug biyahe (Pwede pa raw kasing ibiyahe),” he said.
The driver also said he was traveling at around 70 kilometers per hour and decelerated upon seeing the truck. When he decelerated, the V-Hire skidded and collided with the truck.
The driver is now under police custody while police are awaiting the decision of relatives regarding the filing of charges, according to the Balitanghali report.
DepEd to probe incident
DepEd Bayawan City OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Maria Theresa Avanzado said her office has begun a thorough investigation into the accident.
She said that she will personally travel to Dumaguete City to check on the surviving students.
“We will extend all the assistance we can to families of the students,” Avanzado said in a phone interview.
She added that she has been asked to file a report on her office’s findings to the DepEd Region 7 office in Cebu, as well as the DepEd central office in Manila.
Avanzado also confirmed that the killed and injured students represented the Bayawan City Division to the Math Sayaw Regional Competition in Cebu City. —KG, GMA News
