By JOEY NACALABAN
Correspondent
A MAN driving a motorcycle and two of his four passengers were killed when the motorcycle they were riding slammed into a six-wheel truck while traversing a road in Sitio 9, Barangay Nangka in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, on Christmas day.
Authorities identified the fatalities as eight-year-old Ryza Pagulayan, two-year-old Irish Sophia Bunos, and 58-year-old Raymundo Pagulayan of Casinglot, Tagoloan.
Two others -- Nieves Ermita, 67, and Riza Pagulayan, 20 -- suffered cuts and bruises.
Raymundo, the driver, and his passengers were rushed to the Polymedic Plaza Hospital in Tagoloan. There, Raymundo and the children were declared dead by a physician.
The elder Pagulayan had driven a Yamaha Vega with license plate KV-3838.
Authorities identified the owner and driver of the truck as Royme Opaon of Claveria town. He drove a Mitsubishi Fuso Fighter with license plates GHH-497.
Opaon was not able to present an official receipt and certificate of registration for his truck.
Opaon said he was heading towards Villanueva when the accident happened.
“Nagkarga ko og mga sound system adtong higayona sa dihang pagliko nako anang kurbada kaayo nga dalan kalit lang dunay gitunga nga motor. Mao nalang akong namatikdan adunay kusog nga tingog sa wala nga bahin sa akong sakyanan. Ang motor naman diay to,” Opaon claimed.
He said the motorcycle had overtaken two other vans before it crashed into his driven truck.
Opaon, who is facing a case for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, said he is willing to help the victims and their families.
