A barangay councilor was killed on Monday night after two motorcycles in Cortes town figured in a head-on collision which also left one motorcyclist in critical condition and four others including a 10-year-old and an eight-year-old with injuries.
PO3 Joel Orapa of the Cortes Police Station identified the fatality as Aproniano Ejoc, 37, a village councilor of Haguilan, Catigbian who was the driver of one of the ill-fated motorcycles.
According to Orapa, Ejoc was rushed to the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City but was declared dead on arrival, while the other motorcycle driver, Leo Lumaad, 21, of Poblacion Cortes remained in critical condition.
Both drivers were believed to have been under the influence of alcohol as Ejoc and Lumaad joined fiesta celebrations in Barangay Taloto, Tagbilaran and Balilihan town, respectively, prior to the fatal accident, said Orapa.
Ejoc’s two sons, aged eight and 10, suffered minor injuries while Lumaad’s passengers, Reynald Lumaad and Roel Humot also incurred small scratches.
Orapa said that based on their initial investigation Ejoc accidentally swerved and crossed into the opposite lane causing him to slam straight into Lumaad along a national road in Barangay Loreto, Cortes at past 7 p.m.
Ejoc was driving from Tagbilaran City and was heading towards Catgbian while Lumaad was travelling to Poblacion, Cortes from Balilihan during the accident.
According to Orapa, Ejoc’s sons were wearing helmets but he was not.
Lumaad and his two passengers were also not wearing any protective headgear. (A. Doydora)