2 die after truck sideswipes pedestrians Victims walk on the wrong side, authorities said

By Joeylen Dela Cruz

Bayawan City – Two pedestrians were dead and four injured after a speeding Isuzu Elf truck sideswiped the victims along Talas Place, Cansilong, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental on May 19.

The fatalities were identified as Analy Torres, 36 and Glenda Gelera, 19, a fresh graduate of Bachelor of Elementary Education in Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) – Bayawan-Sta. Catalina Campus (BSC). The two were declared dead on arrival by attending physician Dr. Victor Nuico of Bayawan District Hospital.

The other victims who sustained bruises in the different parts of the body were Apolonio Copra, Ramon Cayang, Globilyn Cayang and Yen Gelera.

Victims were on the wrong side

Based on the initial investigation conducted by the Bayawan City–Philippine National Police headed by Police Chief Inspector Teodorico Picardal, at around 10:30 p.m., a fast Isuzu Elf was travelling en route Basay to Bayawan City upon reaching the curve of Talas Place, Cansilong area.

The chief inspector added that the six victims were walking “on the wrong side of the road.” Meanwhile, Picardal noted that the Isuzu Elf driver was drunk when the incident happened.

The driver, Herman Baldado, 49 years old and a resident of Brgy. Cawitan, Santa Catalina, will be facing the cases of reckless imprudence, homicide and multiple physical injuries.

Picardal advised pedestrians to be more vigilant when walking along or crossing national highways to avoid the same accident.

Marve Fabela, a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy student and one of the witnesses of the incident, admitted that they [pedestrians] do also have a fault since they were walking on the wrong side. According to him, they should have walked on the left side of the road.

NORSU extends help for Gelera

Glenda Gelera is the youngest among the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Bordet Gelera and is a magna cum laude awardee.

NORSU–BSC College of Education (CEd) donated a humble amount for the victim’s funeral. CEd Assistant Dean Lucille Himpayan shared that she was really shocked about what happened to Gelera. She added that Gelera is surely a big loss to the community since she had been a good student leader and a member of The Pylon.

Meanwhile, NORSU–BSC Student Affairs Office Director Francis Galon said that the parents of the victim will receive their daughter’s death insurance worth P50, 000.