TACLOBAN CITY -- Police are hunting the driver of a commuter van that ran over a cop and a fire volunteer along the national highway in Brgy. San Policarpo, Calbayog City.
The victims who were on board a motorcycle, were identified as Patrolman John Arwin Terga, 31, assigned in San Jorge, Samar, and his back rider Luther Del Vasquez, 24, both residents of said city.
The driver of the commuter van bearing plate number NCP 5234 remains unidentified after abandoning the vehicle on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022.
Terga was still under the left front wheel of the van, while Del Vasquez was at the center line of the road facing up when the responders arrived.
Terga's motorcycle was at the center of the road and the van was at the left opposite road facing north.
Initial investigation disclosed that the van was traveling from Lanao Del Sur going to Metro Manila, while the motorcycle was traveling in the opposite direction from Brgy. Oquendo Poblacion and was going to the city proper.
The van abruptly swerved to the opposite lane which prompted the motorcycle to maneuver to the left to avoid the impact.
However, the van still hit the motorcycle which fell on the pavement. Worse, the van even dragged the motorcycle to about 10 meters away from the impact.
Terga and Del Vasquez both died on the spot due to major injuries on their heads, while the driver of the van alighted from his vehicle, allegedly transferred to another van, and immediately fled the scene going in the north direction.