Mother, infant aboard motorbike die in road crash in Marilog

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 9 Jan) – A mother and her one-year-old child aboard a motorcycle driven by the husband died on the spot in a tragic road crash in Logdeck in mountainous Marilog District here Wednesday evening.

Curious onlookers gather around the accident area Wednesday evening (8 January 2024) in Marilog, Davao City. Photo courtesy of the Marilog Police Station

Information from the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) based on investigations conducted by the Marilog Police Station sent to the media Wednesday evening said that a Hyundai Starex van and a motorcycle travelling in opposite directions along the Davao-Bukidnon highway collided upon reaching a curved section of the road.

The motorcycle reportedly veered off its lane, hitting the van driven by Danny Gumanban Casas, a resident of Lower Madapo Hills Barangay 8-A, Davao City.

The motorcycle passengers, who were identified as Lea Landas Baclas, 19 years old, and her 1-year-old son, Mark Lester Baclas, died on the spot, the police report stated.

Police said the motorcycle was not registered, driven by Lea’s husband, Marlon Bermanos Baclas, who has no driver’s license as well. The latter was reportedly injured and being treated at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

Meanwhile, the driver of the van is now in custody at the Marilog Police Station.

Capt. Hazel Caballero, DCPO spokesperson, said in a press conference Wednesday morning that as of their latest data, 40 vehicular accidents occurred within Davao City in a span of six days, from Jan. 1 to 6, 2025, causing seven deaths.

She said the incidents were mostly caused by human error, either speed limit violators or under the influence of liquor.

“We are reminding drivers to observe our speed limit in Davao City, and not to drive slowly only when we see traffic enforcers,” Caballero said.

“Drive with caution because some drivers do not comply with the speed limit, some are driving while drunk, and worse, some die due to recklessness,” she added.

Caballero said the DCPO-Traffic Enforcement Unit (DCPO-TEU) are closely monitoring major roads such as the C.P. Garcia Highway and the Davao City Coastal Road, where most of these vehicular accidents occur. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)