BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
A retired court employee was killed when he was sideswiped by a wing van along Araneta Highway in front of the Government Service Insurance System compound in Bacolod City at about 9:40 a.m. yesterday.
Felix Nantha, 73, of Quint Town Subdivision in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, was crossing the street when the accident happened, traffic investigator, P/SSgt. Roldan Villa of Police Station 8, said.
Villa said Nantha, a former court interpreter and stenographer, was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital but was declared dead by attending physicians.
Truck driver Reggie Alferez, 26, of Sitio Punod in Brgy. Prosperidad, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, said he was heading south of the road going to Brgy. Tangub when the accident happened.
Alferez said he failed to initially notice Nantha because there was another vehicle on his side, and tried to step on the brakes when he saw the victim crossing but it was already too late.
He said that he alighted from the truck but did not check on the victim because he was nervous.
Alferez is now in the custody of Police Station 8 and is facing charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. Villa said he has no idea whether the victim’s family and Alferez were in talks for a possible settlement.*
