4 killed, 2 injured in Quezon road mishaps

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Three pedestrians and one motorcycle rider were killed while two suffered serious injuries in two separate road accidents in Infanta, Quezon, police said.

Police Officer 2 Benito Nevera, Infanta police investigator, said two motorcycles collided pre-dawn New Year’s Day in Barangay Dinahican.

One of the drivers, Jerrymil Romantico, was killed in the collision while the other motorist, Glenmar Gache, sustained serious injuries and was brought to the Claro M. Recto Hospital in Infanta for treatment.

Police said Gache has no driver’s license.

Quoting villagers, police said the two victims often engaged in a racing contest along the highway.

On New Year’s eve, three pedestrians were killed and one suffered serious injuries when a speeding van bumped them in Barangay Gumian, also in Infanta.

Police investigator Nevera said at around 3:20 a.m. the fatalities—Kevin Formentero, 19; Jerick Villaflor, 20; and Edmund Victorino, 20, along with eight others—were walking along the side of the road when a Hyundai van (BEG-322) driven by one Ferdinand Manuel Burgo accidentally hit  them.

The three were dead on arrival at the Claro M. Recto Hospital while another companion, Charilyn Rutaquio, 19, was still confined at the same hospital and in critical condition due to serious injuries she suffered.

Nevera said the rest of the pedestrians sustained minor injuries and sent home immediately after first aid treatment.

Burgo voluntarily surrendered to the police station in nearby Real town and was later turned over to the Infanta police. He is now detained at the Infanta police station.