PUDTOL, Apayao – A 19-year old student died while his back rider was injured after their motorcycle accidentally hit a tractor along the national highway at Cacalaggan, here, Sunday morning.
Police authorities identified the fatality as Ricky De La Cruz Melad, 19, single, student, while the injured back rider was named as Orly Javier Perman, 11, both residents of barangay Malibang, Pudtol, Apayao.
The hand tractor driver was named by responding police operatives as Crisologo Arupat Tacdag, of legal age, married, and resident of barangay Cacalaggan, Pudtol, Apayao.
Initial police investigation showed that the hand tractor and the motorcycle of the two individuals were moving towards the same direction when the motorcycle driver attempted to overtake the same but decided to go back to his original lane after seeing another motorcycle coming from the separate direction.
However, the steering handle of his motorcycle hit the hand tractor causing the driver it to eventually lose its balance that resulted to the occupants being thrown off the vehicle.
The two persons were rushed to the Ama Jadsak hospital for medical treatment but the driver was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians while his back rider is still undergoing close medical supervision due to multiple head and body injuries.
By Dexter A. See
