2 motorcycle riders killed in Negros multi-vehicle crash


BACOLOD CITY — Two persons riding a motorcycle died in a multi-vehicle accident at Purok Manman Ko, Barangay Pandanon Silos in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Saturday.

Police identified the victims as motorcycle driver Julieto Cañete, 47, of Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City, and companion Jimmy Gadiane of Barangay Prosperidad, San Carlos City.

Police Lt. Frankie Paciente, deputy police chief of Murcia Municipal Police Station, said that a delivery van loaded with freezers of ice cream driven by 33-year-old Micheal Cabugwason allegedly lost its brakes causing it to hit the rear part of a minivan it was tailing.

A delivery van collided with a motorcycle, killing its two riders, and hit a sports utility vehicle injuring its two passengers in Barangay Pandanon-Silos, Murcia, Negros Occidental Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Murcia Municipal Police Station/Manila Bulletin)

Paciente said that Cabugwason then swerved the vehicle to the left, colliding with the approaching motorcycle.

After which, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that was tailing the motorcycle was also hit, he added. A copy of a dash cam video sent by the police to the media on Sunday captured how the accident happened that caused the victims to be thrown off from their motorcycles.

Paciente said another motorcycle rider who was also tailing the victims managed to jump off his motorcycle and was not harmed.

The SUV driver and his passenger suffered minor injuries, as well as Cabugwason who is now detained at the police station.

Paciente said the victims, both construction workers, were on their way home after getting their salaries from their employer here when they figured in the accident.

Pa ciente said the victims’ families and Cabugwason’s employer will meet for a possible settlement on Sunday, Nov. 7.