2 killed, 2 hurt in Cebu road accident

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Two casino workers on their way home on a motorcycle were killed while two pedestrians were injured Saturday morning when they were hit by a car driven by a man police said lacked sleep and had had a few drinks at a party the night before.

The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) identified the fatalities in the accident, which occurred on Salinas Drive in Lahug, Cebu City, as Gaudeoso Bontilao of Barangay Guba and Joselito Lopez, 43, of Capitol Site, both in Cebu City.

The driver of the car, Gerard dela Cruz, 23, was detained at the Citom cell and faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in double homicide and physical injuries.

Joy Tumulak, Citom operations officer, said Bontilao and Lopez worked for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Barangay Lahug.

Lopez hitched a ride home with Bontilao, who owned a motorcycle, after their shift ended at 6 a.m.

Shortly after they had started out, a Honda Civic car suddenly swerved to the left lane and collided with the oncoming motorcycle, about 200 meters from the hotel, police said.

Dela Cruz was on his way to the same casino to fetch his father, whose shift also ended at 6 a.m.

Tumulak said Dela Cruz fell asleep while driving because he had not had enough sleep following a party where he had a few drinks.

Because of the impact, Bontilao and Lopez were thrown off the motorcycle and hit their heads on the pavement. They died on the spot, Tumulak said.

The car went up the curb and hit two pedestrians on the sidewalk before it slammed into the fence of a restaurant.

Injured were  Roel Cadiz, 33,  a native of Camotes Island, Cebu; and Danny Vale, 37, of Cebu City.

Tumulak said Dela Cruz admitted he had been drinking with his friends until dawn Saturday and had a nap before setting out to fetch his father.

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