• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
A bread delivery helper died while his driver was injured after a three-vehicle collision occurred at around 9 a.m. on Thursday at Sitio Malasbalas, Barangay Orong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Killed in the collision was Poldo Dela Cruz, a helper and resident of Brgy Camugao, Kabankalan City, while the driver of the tricycle he was riding was injured, identified as the 39-year-old Julian Jacolbe.
The initial investigation by the Kabankalan Component Police Station stated that Jacolbe’s tricycle and a panel van driven by Asher Perez, 44, a delivery driver from Cauayan, were traveling in the same direction, from Mabinay towards Kabankalan City.
At the same time, a Toyota pickup driven by Cecilia Sonsona was approaching from the opposite direction. The panel van reportedly rear ended the tricycle, which was moving slowly due to an ongoing road construction. As a result, the panel van veered into the opposite lane and collided with the approaching pickup at the opposite side of the road.
Dela Cruz sustained severe head injuries due to the impact, which resulted in his immediate death on the scene, while Jacolbe suffered a minor injury and is now recovering.
The vehicles involved in the incident sustained significant damage. Police confirmed that the panel van driver, Perez, and his vehicle are now under police custody for proper disposition as the investigation continues.*
