CABANATUAN CITY—Three motorcycle riders died while another civilian was injured when two motorcycles collided head-on along the national highway in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija Wednesday night.
Senior Supt. Manuel Cornel, provincial police director, identified the fatalities as Alex de Leon, 35, of Barangay Bagong Sikat; Christian Gutay, 19, and John Billy Lubao, both of Barangay South Poblacion, all of Gabaldon town.
The three died from severe head injuries.
Injured was Ariston Santiago, 36, also of South Poblacion.
Police said the accident occurred at Purok Magsaysay, Barangay Ligaya, Gabaldon at around 9 p.m. Wednesday. De Leon was driving a black Kawasaki with license plate 4891-HT back-rided by Santiago bound for the town proper from Cabanatuan City when it collided head-on with an unlicensed black Suzuki driven by Gutay and with Lubao seated at the back seat traveling in the opposite direction to Cabanatuan.
Santiago told police that the Suzuki motorcycle was traveling at full speed and the driver lost control of the steering wheel at a road curve.
De Leon, Gutay and Lubao were rushed to Gabaldon Medicare Community Hospital but were declared dead-on-arrival by the attending physician.
Santiago sustained injuries to his right leg and his body and was rushed to the Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center for treatment.