BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
CAPIZ – A 24-year-old singer-vlogger from Iloilo City is under investigation as one of the suspects in the fatal accident that claimed the lives of a 20-year-old mother and her two-month-old baby in Barangay Bitoon Ilaya, Cuartero town in this province.
The suspects were identified as aliases “Clyde,” a resident of Molo, Iloilo City and originally from President Roxas, Capiz, and “Ben,” 46, van driver from Barangay Mongpong, Roxas City. Clyde was driving a Toyota Raize while Ben operated a Toyota Hiace van.
According to Cuartero police chief Captain Alladen Talaban, the accident occurred as Clyde attempted to overtake a vehicle in the slow lane of the national highway around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24. His maneuver resulted in a side-swipe collision with a tricycle carrying the victims identified as aliases “Ivy” and baby “Cha.”
The victims were thrown off from the tricycle into the opposite lane and they were ran over by Ben’s van, Talaban said.
The victims were reportedly en route to a hospital in Dao town to visit her another child.
Initial investigation revealed that Clyde had been driving at high speed after an alleged near-collision with an elf van and a tricycle in Dumarao town earlier.
Talaban emphasized Clyde’s role as “high at fault” in the incident, stating that the fatal outcome could have been avoided if not for his reckless overtaking. However, the final determination of liability rests with the prosecutor.
The Cuartero police have filed cases of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and damage to property against Clyde and Ben. However, both suspects have been temporarily released after exceeding the 18-hour reglementary detention period, as the required death certificates were not submitted in time for inquest proceedings.
The victims’ family, awaiting the return of their matriarch from Hong Kong, has yet to finalize their decision to pursue the case as of this writing.
Talaban, meanwhile, urged tricycle and motorcycle drivers to avoid occupying the fast lane on national highways and reminded motorists to ensure a clear path before overtaking to prevent similar tragedies./PN
