Toll in Boljoon mishap rises to 3

ANOTHER student has died after succumbing to injuries sustained in  a car accident near the Lusapon bridge in Boljoon town in south Cebu. She was among the group of six students involved in the road mishap.

Joanne Marie Romero, 16,  a graduating senior student of the Boljoon National High School, died    at  Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City yesterday.
She died of  head injuries, said SPO3 Roderick Roma of the Boljoon police.

Her classmates- Judy Ann Lomera, 17, and Christy Marie Estella, 18, were the first fatalities.
All six students were thrown off the bridge when a Toyota Vios sedan  swerved and slammed into them on Thursday afternoon.

The driver,  medical representative Al-Dhinier Sanaani , was with a female  medical representative identified as Kristine Joyce Batucan, the registered  owner of  the car.

Both were  brought to the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital in Cebu City for treatment of  injuries sustained after the vehicle overturned.
A policeman escorted them to the hospital, where they remain under police custody, said Roma.

Sanaani will be charged with  reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries.

Three students landed on a large  rock  along the river some 13 to 15 meters below the bridge.
Three other students  are still under observation in a hospital in Cebu City : Melissa Mendez, 14; her cousin Kynth Marie Mendez, 14; and Nice Ancheta, 15, all sophomore students of the same school.

Roma said 4th year class adviser Daisy Villarta said the victims were good performers in class and were supposed to graduate next month.

Boljoon Mayor Merlou Derama  gave initial assistance to the victims’ families when the students were brought to the hospital in Cebu City.

The mayor was told that  Sanaani’s representatives assured they would shoulder all  hospital and burial expenses. The parents have yet to file charges.