BY GLAZYL MASCULINO
BACOLOD CITY – An ambulance driver died while three others were injured in a three-vehicle collision at the corner of San Sebastian and Lacson Streets in Barangay 32 here on Wednesday.
Police identified the fatality as Jessie James Tranilla, an ambulance driver of South Bacolod General Hospital (SBGH).
Injured were ambulance passengers Maria Cajeras, 30, a nurse; Jose Francisco Sombero III, 38, an auxiliary; Vicente Limaco, 78, a patient, of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, police said.
Maj. Jovil Sedel, Police Station 1 chief, said the accident happened when a sports utility vehicle, driven by 21-year-old Kenny Arillo, tried to cross the street as the ambulance, driven by Tranilla, was speeding on its way to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here.
The ambulance was supposed to transport Limaco to the said hospital when the vehicle was hit by the SUV, Sedel said.
Tranilla lost control of the vehicle and collided with a truck driven by Genesis Graellos, who was moving from the opposite direction, Sedel said.
The ambulance then fell on its side due to the impact, he added.
Tranilla was rushed to CLMMRH, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Cajeras and Sombero were brought to SBGH while Limaco was taken to CLMMRH.
Cajeras sustained serious injuries while the two other victims were in stable condition, Sedel said.
Sedel said Arillo is now detained at the police station while Graellos was also invited at the station for further investigation.
Sedel said Arillo’s family already signified to extend assistance to the victims’ families.
