Zarraga road mishap kills two babies on their way to church
Two babies failed to reach the church alive for their scheduled baptism on Saturday after a passenger jeepney rammed the tricycle they were riding in along a highway in Brgy. Gines, Zarraga, Iloilo.
Four of the eight other occupants were critically injured while the rest, including the driver, sustained minor injuries.
The tricycle was on its way to the parish church early Saturday morning when hit head-on by a passenger jeepney (FUH 655), driven by Reynaldo Britania, along the highway fronting the public cemetery in Brgy. Gines.
All the tricycle occupants were thrown out of their seats, witnesses said.
The two babies were rushed to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district, Iloilo City but the attending physicians pronounced them dead on arrival.
Still in critical condition at the hospital were the parents of the two infants, Celito and Rasel Biaco, and Jerry and Alona Brania.
Hospital authorities released the would-be godparents, identified as Jerry Carisma, Leo Alubin, Ronalyn Artubar, Fauith Agustin and Raffy Calbay, after treating them for minor injuries.
SPO1 Johnny Arnad, Zarraga police investigator, said the the Iloilo-bound passenger jeepney tried to overtake another vehicle upon reaching Brgy. Gines but lost control of the wheels, thus ramming the incoming tricycle.
Britania voluntarily surrendered to the Zarraga police. (PNA)