A 37-year-old man died while his driver survived after their car crashed into a concrete barrier and an electric post in Barangay Dilan Paurido, Urdaneta City in Pangasinan.

The victim, identified as Alrey Jacob Cancino, was a resident of the same area.

According to police, he and the driver were on their way home from a wake when the accident happened.

“Dalawang individual, magkasama po sila ng sasakyan, isang sedan. Habang pauwi po sila, galing po sa isang lamayan sa Dilan Paurido, siyudad ng Urdaneta,” PLTCOL. Rommel Bagsic, Urdaneta Police Chief, said.

“Allegedly, ‘yung driver po ng sasakyan ay nakainom, so mabilis po yata ‘yung kanilang takbo, base sa statement ng mga witness, at nawalan ng control ‘yung driver nung sasakyan, bumangga sa concrete barrier,” he added.

At the victim’s wake, family members mourned the loss of Alrey.

They described him as a hardworking, kind, and helpful man.

His mother, Alma Jacob Cancino, chose not to file charges against the driver, who was a close friend of her son.

“Tapos na po usapan. Tinanong nila ako kung magde-demanda ako. Eh nangingibabaw ‘yung awa ko rin doon sa driver, kasi wala rin pong iba sa kanila. Matagal po silang magkakaibigan. Kung ano man kailangan ng anak ko, doon din siya ['yung kaibigan niya] tumatakbo,” she said.

Police reminded the public to avoid drunk driving to prevent similar tragedies on the road.