Priest, motorcyclist figure in road accident
A 25-year-old man met his untimely demise in a road mishap involving a priest, the third in few weeks' time that transpired along the newly-opened coastal road in Cagayan de Oro.
The victim identified as Tedy Kibben Fuentes apparently rammed his motorcycle into a Ford Ranger pick-up truck driven by Father Enerio Tacastacas at the foot of the coastal road along Gusa intersection past 12:00 midnight, Monday, November 27.
Father Tacastacas is currently the parish priest of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
Investigation showed that Fuentes was traversing the highway towards the city proper and the vehicle supposedly crossing towards the coastal road came across the junction resulting to the deadly collision.
Chief Inspector Allan Curato, police station 3 chief, said the collision was intense as the motorcycle was wrecked due to the heavy impact.
The victim was rushed to the hospital but died later on.
"Kung national highway always gyud ang priority niya iyang dalan ang motabok mao dapat magbantay (The motorist's priority is his lane when plying the highway while those crossing should be the ones to take extra careful)," Curato said.
"Dili sa coastal road ang bangga kundili diha sa intersection pasulod sa coastal road (The accident happened at the intersection at the foot of the coastal road)."
Already, the victim's family and the priest have initially talked for settlement and should there be an official paper for such, the police would release the suspect from their custody, Curato further said.
Meanwhile, authorities have noted that there were already three vehicular accidents recorded at the coastal road since it formally opened for public use last November 10.
Curato said most of the vehicles involved are big trucks and motorcycles, even citing the absence of streetlights as one of the major lapses.
Village officials and the police have started working out to address the lighting problem at the coastal road.
Curato has advised the motorists to be extra careful when taking the routes of the coastal road and the national highway especially during wee hours.