ORMOC CITY-Five individuals, all students riding a habal-habal motorcycle, were injured after colliding with a subcompact crossover SUV along the national highway in Barangay Borac, Naval, Biliran, around 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
The victims, identified by police only through aliases—“Aura” (13), “Thea” (12), “Arjie” (minor), and “Dayday” (age not specified)—are all residents of Barangay Bato, Biliran. They were passengers on a habal-habal motorcycle en route to their home barangay when the accident occurred.
The SUV driver, identified as alias “Laila,” 58, a self-employed resident of Brgy. Lucsoon, Naval, was driving a Toyota Yaris Cross. She was unharmed in the incident.
According to the investigation conducted by responding officers from the Naval Municipal Police Station, both vehicles were traveling in opposite directions— the SUV heading toward the town proper of Naval, and the habal-habal heading toward Brgy. Bato. Upon reaching the accident site, the front tire of the habal-habal reportedly burst, causing the driver to lose control and crash into the oncoming SUV.
The injured students were immediately rushed to the Biliran Provincial Hospital for medical treatment. The severity of their injuries has not yet been disclosed.
Both vehicles were brought to the Naval police station for further investigation and proper disposition.
Authorities remind motorists, especially those using motorcycles to carry multiple passengers, to regularly inspect their vehicles and observe safe driving practices to prevent similar accidents.
(ROBERT DEJON)
