Widow killed, 9 injured
in Alijis road accident

A widow was killed and nine other persons were injured when a passenger jeepney plying the Alijis-Central Market route slammed into the gate of a gasoline station and turned over yesterday morning along Alijis Road , Bacolod City.

Killed in the accident was Violeta Doromal, 70, who died while being treated for head injuries at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center , Senior Inspector Levy Pangue of the City Police Traffic Division said.

Injured were Leony Sendico, 23; Maria Fe Pajaro, 59; Lenny Rose Molde, 17; Jennlyn Arnaiz, 15; Albert Tiguelo, 38; Ernon Panganiban, 25; Mary Grace Rosario, 27; Nancy Sia, 33; and jeepney driver Gerry Martinez.

The victims were rushed to different hospitals in the city for immediate treatment, Pangue said.

He added that Martinez lost control of the vehicle after its drag link – the rod connecting the lever of the steering gear to the steering arm – got detached, causing it to swerve and slam into the gate of A1 gas station

Pangue said Martinez should have checked the condition of his vehicle before starting his usual route.

The accident is a warning to all jeepney drivers and operators to make sure that their vehicles are in good running condition and its parts serviceable all the time, Pangue said.

With most of the passenger jeepneys in the city locally manufactured and assembled or made through “pasad”, mechanical troubles can always occur and to avoid this, drivers and operators should have their vehicles regularly checked, Pangue said. *NAB

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