Driver killed, COVID-19 patient hurt as SUV slams into ambulance in Bacolod

BACOLOD CITY—An ambulance driver died and his passengers, including a COVID-19 patient, were injured when a Mitsubishi Montero SUV slammed into the emergency vehicle, causing it to slam into another vehicle in the city on Wednesday.

Jessie James Tranilla, who drove ambulances for the South Bacolod General Hospital, was brought to the hospital after the crash but was declared dead there.

Injured were his passengers Maria Nadala Cajeras, a 30-year-old nurse; Vicente Limaco, a 78-year-old COVID-19 patient and a certain Jose Francisco Manlosa.

Also injured was a certain Genesis De Jesus Graellos, of Murcia town, Negros Occidental, who was on board a JMC van that the ambulance hit after it was slammed by the Montero.

Limaco is a retired policeman who was found positive for coronavirus and was being transported aboard the ambulance to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.

Investigation showed that the ambulance driven by Tranilla was on Lacson Street when it was hit by the Montero being driven by Kenny Sorillo Arillo, 21, of Providencia Subdivision in the city.

Police said Tranilla lost control of the ambulance and hit the JMC van.

Arillo is now detained at the police station 1 awaiting charges.

TSB