Killer highway claims 3 lives

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Two motorists were killed, while at least 10 others were injured in three separate vehicular accidents that have happened along Kidapawan-Makilala highway, since Saturday, reports said.

In the most deadly incident that occurred early yesterday, two motorists in separate motorcycles collided with each other while travelling at a high speed on Ilomavis Tourism Road.

Supt. Ramel Hojilla, this city’s police director, identified the slain drivers as Chin Lee Galvez Treyes, 18, and a resident of Samonte Subdivision, Poblacion here; and Mosatar Dela Cerna, 29, of Barangay Kibia, of Matalam town.

Hojilla said Dela Cerna was headed towards Barangay Ilomavis here, while Treyes was traveling back to the city’s Poblacion at around 1 a.m. when their bikes collided. Both died on-the-spot, reports said.

Traffic investigators have initially surmised that both drivers were under the influence of alcohol and were over-speeding at the time of the accident.

In the same highway, at least eight persons were injured when two passenger vans also collided in Barangay Binoligan at around 9 p.m. last Saturday.

A van driven by Alan Rex Serapion who was on his way to Cotabato met an accident with a similar passenger van that was being driven by Bong Tembal Takbir. The latter was reportedly heading for Davao City.

Serapion, Takbir and six of their passengers were rushed to different hospitals in this town for treatment.

In the Makilala, North Cotabato portion of the highway, two motorcycle drivers also figured in a head-on collision on Saturday, and were more fortunate to escape the mishap just with injuries.

Also in Kidapawan City, at least eight persons were injured when two passenger vans collided

Police identified the injured as Antonio Feria Gajeton, 51, of Barangay Bulakanon, Makilala; and Arnel Badana Pecaña, 40, an Army soldier from Poblacion-B, M’lang.

Reports said Gajeta and Pacana were traversing the Makilala-M’lang highway coming from opposite sides when the accident occurred at past noon.