A Negrense seaman in Florida lost his entire family, including his son who was the president of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Sagay City, when the car they were riding in was hit by a six-wheeler truck in EB Magalona town at 5:55 p.m. Saturday.

Killed on the spot between Kilometer 24 and 25 in Barangay Tabigue, EB Magalona was Mini Magdalene Jerez Junatas, 39, her SK Federation president son Gene Noel Junatas, 17, and their driver Allan Carmona, 26, all of Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, PO2 Edwin Dumada-og Jr., EB Magalona traffic chief, said.

Junatas’ 6-year-old daughter, Ann Margaret, died at the Pablo O. Torres Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City early yesterday morning, he added.

They were on board their white Honda Civic ESI with Plate No. TKT 649 when an Isuzu six-wheeler truck owed by Kim Marketing with Plate No. CAW 574 driven by Roland Pasigado, 26, of Barangay Culo, Pulupandan hit them, Dumada-og said.

Witnesses said the truck was seen zigzagging along the highway as if the driver had lost control of the wheel and Carmona tried to swerve the Honda Civic away but was still hit, initial police investigation showed, Dumdao-og added.

He said the Honda Civic was going north when the truck headed south entered its lane and hit it.

Pasigado is detained at the EB Magalona police jail.

His companions Diomer Caliso, Jeoven Nave and Lyzel Magbanua sustained minor injuries and were treated as outpatients, Dumda-og said.

Sagay Mayor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he was saddened by the death of the four Sagaynons, noting that the death of Magdalene and her two children leaves seaman Erjo Junatas with his entire family dead as he and Mini Magdalene only had two children.

Erjo Junatas, who works as a seaman on a luxury vessel in Florida, is expected to arrive in Bacolod on Tuesday to bury his family. His wife and children all sustained head wounds, a relative said.

His son, Gene Noel, was set to graduate from high school at the Philippine Normal University in Cadiz City.*CPG]

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