BACOLOD CITY – Four elderly women were just sipping coffee by the roadside on Wednesday when the driver of a passing pick-up lost control of his vehicle and mowed them down as it crashed into a store in Barangay Bae, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental.
Killed in the accident were Lydia Garsula, 80, and Remedios Fabillar, 65, both residents of Barangay Panglaya-an; Herminilda Gantalao, 76, of Barangay Tamao; and Milagros Garsula, 82, of Barangay Bae, according to the police.
The pick-up truck was driven by 62-year-old Robert Lim of Barangay North Poblacion, a businessman.
Chief Master Sgt. Edilberto Euraoba III, Negros Oriental police public information officer, said that based on the initial investigation, the victims were having coffee at the store when the accident happened.
That left the women either sprawled on the pavement, or dragged into a nearby canal.
Two of the victims were taken into Jimalalud Rural Health Unit, where they were declared dead, while the other two victims were brought to Guihulngan City District Hospital, where they were also pronounced dead.
Meanwhile, Lim was brought to the Ace Medical Doctors in Dumaguete City.
Investigation was still ongoing as of posting.