2 dead, 2 hurt in Quezon road accidents

LUCENA CITY –- A motorcycle rider and a truck helper were killed in two separate road accidents in Lopez and Atimonan towns in Quezon province on Wednesday, police said.

Truck helper Lolito de la Rama, 57, was thrown off from a 14-wheel truck after the truck driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a descending section of the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Santa Catalina around 8:30 p.m.

A report from the Quezon police said Thursday the wayward vehicle sideswiped a hilly side of the road that caused De la Rama to fall and consequently be pinned down by the truck’s wire poles cargo that also tumbled down.

De la Rama died on the spot while the unidentified driver escaped.

In Lopez town, an oncoming tractor being driven by Ricky de Jesus sideswiped a motorcycle being driven by Antonio Maglalang in Barangay Canda Ilaya around 9:30 a.m.

Maglalang and his two passengers, Gemma Rita, 52, and Monica Maglalang, 27, all suffered injuries.

Rita died while being taken to the Magsaysay Memorial District Hospital at the town center. (Editor: Leti Boniol)