A municipal government employee and a 7-year-old boy yesterday died, and three others were injured in traffic and vehicular accidents, in Talisay City and Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, police records show.

Fritzel Arsenio, 7, and his sister, Cherry Mae, 8, and two other minors whose identities were not available as of press time, were on their way to Tayabas Elementary School in Brgy. Zone 15, Talisay City, when they were hit by a passenger bus bound for Bacolod City, at about 7 a.m. yesterday, investigations of the Talisay police showed.

Fritzel died, while his elder sister, sustained injuries in her right leg but survived. The two other minors suffered abrasions, police investigations also showed.

The passenger bus driver, identified as Edson Pedrosa, 33, who was reportedly mauled by witnesses, later surrendered to the EB Magalona Police Station.

Investigations by the Talisay police Traffic Section showed that the Cebro mini-bus driven by Pedrosa had a brake malfunction and that led to the accident.

Several hours later, a government employee also died, after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a vehicle owned by Negros Occidental Board Member Pedro Zayco in Brgy. 1 poblacion, Pontevedra.

The victim was identified by the Pontevedra police as Eli Roderos, a disbursing officer of the Pontevedra municipal government.

Zayco, accompanied by his wife, who were on the vehicle and their driver, Elmer Garinganao, yesterday said it was a plain and simple accident.

Roderos,56, was initially brought to the Valladolid District Hospital for treatment of his injuries. He later died at the Sanitarium Hospital in Bacolod City, Zayco said.

Garinganao immediately surrendered to the Pontevedra Police Station.

Zayco, who expressed his sympathy to the family of Roderos, said they will extend assistance to them.*GPB

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