NEGROS Occidental – Three parked tricycles were damaged after being rammed by a sport utility vehicle (SUV) along C.L. Ledesma National Highway in Purok Kalingling, Barangay 1, San Carlos City, early yesterday morning, July 15.
The Toyota Raize driver was identified as Earl Lawrence Salimbot, 18, a resident of Barangay Look, Calatrava town, and holder of a student driver’s permit. He was reportedly on his way to bring his six-year-old sibling and 14-year-old nephew to school when the accident happened.
According to Salimbot, he had earlier brought his grandmother, a dialysis patient, to the city around 4 a.m., and returned by 7 a.m. to pick up his siblings. He admitted to falling asleep at the wheel due to exhaustion while driving along a curved section of Sitio Kalingling, causing him to lose control of the SUV.
The vehicle crashed into three parked tricycles owned by Rufo Salumang, Romero Nicor, and Arlyn Salindura, all of which sustained heavy damage. The SUV then veered off the road and landed in a nearby sugarcane field.
Police said no injuries were reported among the tricycle owners. However, Kent Francis Luage, the 14-year-old nephew of the driver, suffered a minor foot injury and was brought to San Carlos City Hospital for treatment. Salimbot and his 6-year-old sibling were unharmed.
San Carlos City police later learned that Salimbot is the sole caretaker of his grandmother and younger siblings, as both of his parents are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Police Captain Rodney T. Sarona, deputy chief of the San Carlos City Police Station, confirmed that Salimbot has agreed to shoulder all repair expenses for the damaged tricycles./PN
