Two people were killed and 11 others injured after a private vehicle plowed through a Holy Week procession along Granada-Alangilan Road in Purok 20, Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City at around 7:20 PM on Good Friday.
According to the Bacolod City Police Office’s Traffic Enforcement Unit, a red Toyota Innova was descending from Barangay Alangilan toward Barangay Granada when it collided with a tricycle that had overtaken the lead patrol car escorting the religious procession.
Due to the force of the impact, the tricycle was thrown, landing on the police patrol car before crashing into a multi-cab.
The tricycle driver, identified as 66-year-old Jonelo Solan Sr. of Purok 6, Barangay Alangilan, was pronounced dead on the spot.
Five passengers aboard the tricycle were also injured, one of whom later died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
Five minors participating in the procession sustained injuries; all of them are residents of Barangay Alangilan.
PMsg Domingo Villar, the driver of the patrol car, and his fellow officer PMsg Freddie Jimenez suffered minor injuries in the incident.
The occupants of the Toyota Innova initially fled the scene but were later apprehended by responding officers not far from the crash site.
The vehicle was driven by Jagpret Shingh, a 37-year-old Indian national residing in Buena Park Subdivision, Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City.
His passengers were also Indian nationals: Hajrgit Singh, Tarenjeet Singh, Satver Singh, and Balwinder Singh Gill—all residents of the same subdivision.
The front of the Innova was wrecked, and the airbags had deployed.
After their arrest, Jagpret Shingh and one of his companions were brought to the hospital for treatment of their injuries, while the remaining three are in police custody at Police Station 5.