Rise in number of deaths from road crashes alarms Davao del Sur execs

DIGOS CITY — Authorities here expressed alarm over a series of vehicular crashes and pedestrians bumped upon crossing the expanded Davao-Cotabato, Digos-General Santos national highway.

The latest incident was a pedestrian who died instantly when he was hit by a Toyota Hilux pick-up while crossing the Davao-Cotabato national highway in Barangay Sinawilan here, around 6:30 p.m., Sunday.

The victim, Roger Galcan, a resident of the village, was the eighth pedestrian since January who was killed while crossing the national highway with no pedestrian lane.

City police director Supt. Deozar Almasa, said the pick-up was owned and driven by one Amando Jaromay, a municipal engineer of M’lang North Cotabato.

He said the pedestrian was crossing the road when he was accidentally bumped by the said vehicle and was thrown to another lane.

“The victim was allegedly hit by other vehicles coming from the opposite direction resulting to his untimely death,” he said.

On Saturday, an 85-year-old widow was also bumped to death when he was hit by an SUV Ford vehicle in Sulop, Davao del Sur.

Meanwhile, a motorcycle driver was declared dead on arrival at Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital, around 6:20 p.m. on the same day.

Chief Insp. Gil Arobo, Hagonoy town police chief, on Monday said Marcos Guardario Jr., 59, was driving his motorcycle when the incident happened at the crossing of Barangay Leling national highway.

Guardario was hit by a Yellow Bus Line Inc., driven by Cornelio Mondelo Adolfo Jr., 48, a resident of Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.

He said the driver fell down and smashed into the road pavements and suffered multiple injuries in different part of his body.

Guardario was brought to the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Digos City by Hagonoy Rescue Team but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The bus driver and his driven vehicle were now in police custody.

The police record shows that the driver was the 10th victim of road crashes in a span of two months.

On Friday, a girl also died when the motorcycle she was riding on crashed into the rear of the truck parked beside the national highway in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Senior Supt. Alan Manibog, police provincial director, said his office would coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways for the putting-up of pedestrian lanes and warning signs in all accident-prone areas of the province.

The police investigation also disclosed that most drivers involved in an accident were driving without a helmet, no driver’s license and has an expired vehicle registration./lzb