A father and son died in a vehicular accident along national highway of Barangay Tagburos the day after Christmas.
Police Staff Sergeant (PSSg) Cesar Falcunaya, the investigator at case, identified them as David Reyes, 35, and his 14-year-old son, whose name is withheld being a minor.
Falcunaya told Palawan Daily News (PDN) Saturday, December 28, this accident happened between a van and motorcycle.
Falcunaya said Reyes was driving a motorcycle with his two sons at the back seat when the accident happened and unfortunately, only his other son Jaztin Dave Reyes survived.
“On the spot ‘yong isa patay na kaagad, ‘yong driver ng motor. Iyong isa naman nadala pa rin sa hospital kaya lang mga few hours later po idineclare na ring patay,” said Falcunaya.
Falcunaya stated their investigation revealed that the driver of the van, whom he identified as Jude Dela Cerna, was talking to someone on a cellphone before the incident happened.
He said Dela Cerna, right after the phone call, decided to use the road’s outer lane instead of staying along the middle of the highway.
However, another van in front of Dela Cerna’s vehicle took a slower pace that required him to step on the brakes in order not to bump into it.
“Iyong van na ‘yon [na minamaneho ni Dela Cerna] ay from north heading toward dito sa Puerto Princesa City. Kakanan sana sila, gagamitin nila ‘yong outerlane. Kaya lang, noong mangyari iyon, based na rin doon sa statement ng driver, [ay] bahagyang nag-menor ‘yong van sa unahan niya,” he said.
“Kaya nag-apply siya ng preno, na-slide ‘yong kaniyang sasakyan. Nang mag-slide, nag-spin ‘yong sasakyan niya clockwise so noong pag-spin niya, iyong bahaging likuran ng sasakyan, ‘yong left, almost left rear, iyon po ang tumama sa motorcycle na approaching sa opposite direction,” he added.
Falcunaya said some passengers of Dela Cerna also sustained wounds and bruises, but not as worse as what happened to the family of Reyes.
Three charges were filed against Dela Cerna for reckless imprudence resulting in double homicide; serious physical injury; and damage to property.