Death toll in town accident climbs to 5

The vehicular accident in Barangay Kanyuko in the southwestern town of Dumanjug, Cebu last Monday has now claimed five victims.

Yesterday morning, 10-yearold Mark Quirante succumbed to his injuries at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

Jennifer Lopez, 28; Harvey Lopez, four; Oliver Lopez, four; and Mary Ann Quirante, 27, died after impact.

The other persons injured in the accident--Alexes Quirante, 13; Zorayda Quirante, 54; Jade Padillo, 11; Jemar Lopez, 10; Raymund Quirante, 32; Jessa Mae Lopez, one; James Lopez, nine; Cristina Tornos, three; and Sarah Mae Tornos, 10—are receiving treatment.

But Quinn Avenry Alpuerto, three, was scheduled for a head operation at the VSMMC.

Dumanjug Police Chief Gilfred Baroman, however, said that the multicab driver, Saulo Quirante, tested negative of alcohol. Saulo, 59, is related to the victims.

Baroman said the multicab was overloaded, which caused the driver to lose control of the wheel.

“The multicab’s capacity cannot accommodate 10 persons. At the time, the passengers were 16, including the driver,” he said.

The wing van driven by Julito Cuyos was on the right lane. Cuyos told police he tried to avoid the multicab, to no avail.

Baroman said they prepared yesterday the complaint of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries against Saulo.

Saulo’s group was on the way home after a beach outing in Barili when the accident happened around 4 p.m. last Monday.

According to reports, Saulo’s multicab was swerving on the highway when it hit Cuyos’s wing van on the opposite lane.

Saulo, who suffered minor injuries, was earlier reported to be drunk.

Police say multicab driver Saulo Quirante was not drunk at the time of the accident, adding that the latter’s overloaded vehicle caused him to lose control of the vehicle. which made him swerve and hit the wing van driven by Julito Cuyos on the opposite lane in Barangay Kanyuko.