Man driving motorcycle sans helmet dies in Maharlika Highway mishap

LUCENA CITY – With just a day before the New Year, a road accident claimed the life a young man along the Maharlika Highway in Sariaya town in Quezon province.

Quoting a report from the Sariaya police, Senior Supt. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Quezon police chief, said Mark Merano Mendoza, 24, was traversing Lagnas bridge in Barangay Sampaloc 2 aboard a Yamaha RS 100 (DD-8371) towards Candelaria town when it collided head on with a Leyte-bound Silver Star tourist bus (UYC-979) at around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mendoza died on the spot from head injuries. His back rider, Leo Jaypee Ventura Camacho, 24, sustained injuries and was rushed to Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City.

The victims, both of Barangay Sto. Cristo of Sariaya, were not wearing the mandatory crash helmets for protection, according to Ylagan.

Investigators found out that the bus was overtaking and was out of its lane when it hit the incoming motorcycle.

Police said the bus, driven by Celso B. Ferreras Jr., was being operated by Silverstar Shuttle and Tours Inc. with office address at Mercado Compound in San Pedro, Laguna.

Ferreras escaped after the accident and left his bus at the town proper, two kilometers away from the accident site, report said.

Wearing crash helmets for all riders of two-wheeled motorized vehicle is mandated under Republic Act No. 10054, otherwise known the motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009”.

Despite the regularity of police checkpoints, motorcycle riders have been seen driving on the streets and streets and national highway in the province without sporting crash helmets.

Last month, five helmet-less motorcycle riders also died in three separate road accidents in the towns of Sariaya, Pagbilao and Mulanay.