A passenger was killed while four others were injured in a collision of a minivan and a tricycle in Bacolod City dawn on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
The incident took place in Purok Busay, Barangay Cabug.
The fatality was identified as a certain “Araceli,” wife of the tricycle driver.
The tricycle driver and three other passengers were injured in the incident.
According to a resident, they were startled upon hearing a loud thud.
“Dumaan siya dito. Nakarinig ako ng lagabog [kalabog]. Mabilis eh dahil kung mabagal lang makikita mo wasak ang unahan na bahagi ng sasakyan,” Abelardo Baldellon, a resident, said.
According to the police, the driver of the minivan was headed for the airport to ferry a passenger. But upon reaching the area, he said he lost control of the vehicle while maneuvering the road dotted with potholes.
The minivan collided head-on with the tricycle traveling from the opposite direction.
"May nakita siya sa ginagawang kalsada. Tumawid siya sa kalsada sa kabilang direksyon. Dito nag-ugat ang head-on collision. Kung magkakaroon ng pananagutan, maaaring may kakulangan sila sa paglalagay ng mga signages,” Major Elmer Bonilla, head of the Bacolod City Police Office – Traffic Management Unit.
The driver of the minivan was taken into the custody of Police Station 9.
"Normal lang naman ang takbo namin, hindi mabilis. Tumalon kasi ang sasakyan ko. Bigla namang sumabog ang gulong ko noon. Kahit anong gawin ko para bumalik sa tamang lane, hindi na ito bumalik. Patawarin niyo na lang po ako kasi hindi ko naman sinasadya,” Erwin, the driver of the minivan, apologized.
Residents said they have long complained about the bad road in their area.
"Sobra na isang taon na hindi naaayos. Marami talagang naaapektuhan. Sana hindi na lang nila sinemento, basta patag na kalsada lang,” Arjie, a resident, said.
Followiing the accident, the barangay immediately covered the potholes with soil.
“Actually, huminto na doon dahil walang diretso na drainage kasi may mga bahay sa dulo na hindi pwedeng daanan. Hindi na ito naayos. Araw-araw pa rin na dumadaan sa butas-butas na kalsada,” Barangay Cabug Chairman Jennifer Pintucan said.
The wounded victims have stayed in the hospital for continued treatment, as of this writing, while the police are awaiting the decision on whether the victims would pursue or not a case against the minivan driver.
