• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A policeman died in a road crash along Guanzon Street in Barangay 1 Poblacion, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Sunday.
The victim was identified as July Pataytay, 32, a member of the PNP Maritime Command.
Police said Pataytay was on his way to a Maritime Command sub-station in Brgy. Daan Banwa when his motorcycle sideswiped the rear of a parked Foton closed van truck.
He was immediately brought to Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival, PLt. Col. Roberto Indiape, Kabankalan City police chief, said.
Initial investigation indicated the cargo truck was parked at the outermost lane of the highway without an early warning device although its hazard lights were on.
Investigators recovered the 9mm service firearm of the victim at the scene of incident.
The police officer was the sixth victim of a road crash in southern Negros over the weekend.
Five other persons, among them a public school teacher, died in the incidents in La Castellana and also in Kabankalan City.
All the victims were on board motorcycles. | GB
