6 die, 3 hurt in Quezon, Cavite road accidents

CAMP G. NAKAR, Quezon/ CAMP GARCIA, Cavite — Four separate road accidents happened over the weekend in the provinces of Quezon and Cavite, killing six people and injuring three others, authorities said.

The Quezon Police Provincial Office (PPO) reported that a tricycle with five people on board veered off its course at high-speed and collided with a passenger bus at 1:45 a.m. yesterday in Gumaca town.

Killed were tricycle passengers Michael Jade Bitoin, 19, a construction worker, and his live-in partner Wilma Reforma, 18, both residents of Barangay Domoit, Lucena City.

Three others on board the tricycle struck by a Raymund Bus driven by 46year-old Henry Mesina were injured. The PPO identified them as Jonathan Arsoa, 21, a construction worker; his live-in partner Mikee Joy; and Felix Bitoin, 43, who was driving the tricycle.

Senior Superintendent Rhoderick C. Armamento, PPO director, said there were two other vehicular accidents in Lucena City in which 63-year- old Manoling Lacuesta of Tayabas City, and Gilbert Diamante, 39, fisherman from a coastal village of Lucena, were killed.

Lacuesta was crossing the Diversion Road, Barangay Domoit on his bicycle when he was struck by a speeding Nissan Urvan driven by Danilo Adillo, 61, of San Felix Victoria, Laguna.

On the other hand, Diamante was riding a motorcycle with his fellow fisherman, Rodrigo Destrito, 32, in Lucena City when a truck driven by Moises Mendoza, 52, of Sta. Mesa, Manila ran over them. Destrito survived with injuries.

Meanwhile in Cavite, factory worker Eddie Awayan Matilla, 34, was riding his bike along Aguinaldo Highway, Barangay Anabu II-D, Imus, at 6 p.m. Saturday when he was sideswiped by a fast-moving Isuzu Elf van (UGM-388) driven by one Orlie Garcia Baysan, 40.

On the other hand, Meljhon Tijano Enrique, 20, a Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) messenger and of Barangay Medina, Magallanes, Cavite was killed when his motorcycle plunged into a deep canal off the road in Barangay Matagbak 1, Alfonso, at 10:40 p.m. also on Saturday.