A fisherman lost his right leg when a big pumpboat collided with his smaller vessel on the seas off Basay, Oriental Negros, just before daybreak recently.

Police identified the fisherman as Lope Martinez, and the operator of the heavier craft as Raymund Villacorta, 27, both fishermen from Brgy. Nagbualao, Basay.

Police investigations showed that Martinez, on board his 20-foot 3-horsepower pumpboat was looking for his fishing drift net when Villacorta's 50-foot 4D30 vessel suddenly appeared and hit his boat.

The crash broke Martinez's pumpboat and also cut off his right leg.

Villacorta, however, allegedly did not stop his vessel but went on.

Another fisherman found the hapless Martinez afloat, brought him to shore and later to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete City.

Villacorta turned himself over to the police about 12 hours after the incident. He said he thought he had hit a floating log.

He assured that he would shoulder the hospital and medical expenses of Martinez.*

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