LUNA, Apayao August 29 – An 83-year old farmer died while three individuals were injured after a sports utility vehicle (SUV) allegedly rammed in a sidewalk along the national highway at Quirino, here, Friday.
Police authorities identified the fatality as Melecio Cariaga Sr., 83 years old, married, farmer and a resident of Quirino, Luna, Apayao while the injured vehicle occupants were named as Marlon Macasaddu Samudio, 36, married, driver, a resident of barangay Camasi, Peñablanca, Cagayan with passengers Atty. Luis Tumamao Donato, Jr., 40, married, lawyer, owner of said vehicle, a resident of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan and Rocenito Tumanao Soriano, 53, married, bodyguard, a resident of Andangan, Solana, Cagayan.
Initial police investigation showed the SUV driven by Samudio with Atty. Donato and Soriano as passengers was traversing the road en route to junction Luna in Abulug, Cagayan when it attempted to overtake a tricycle when he failed to do so, this, he was forced to bring back the vehicle to its original lane but lost control of the steering wheel.
At this juncture, the vehicle rammed into the victim who was on the side of the road that inflicted serious injuries on his head and body.
The victim was rushed to the Apayao-Cagayan Medical Center in Abulug, Cagayan but he was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians while the three occupants of the vehicle who also suffered injuries as a result of the said accident were rushed to different hospitals in the province and nearby Cagyan for medical treatment.
The case is still undergoing further investigation by the concerned police operatives to ascertain the responsibilities of the concerned parties.
By Dexter A. See