A 19-year-old motorcycle rider was killed while his passenger was injured after their motorcycle slammed into a parked SUV and caught fire on Padsan Bridge in Barangay 45 Tangid, Laoag City early Saturday morning, 24 January.

Police said the crash occurred at about 4:40 a.m. and involved a Yamaha Aerox motorcycle driven by Mark Ranier Laureta, 19, a native of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, who was residing in Barangay 13 Nuestra Señora de Natividad, Laoag City. Authorities said they could not confirm whether Laureta had a valid driver’s license at the time of the incident.

His passenger was identified as Jewel Mae Flores, 22, a resident of Barangay San Marcelino, Dingras, Ilocos Norte.

The other vehicle involved was a Nissan Patrol SUV registered under the name of Josefa Baltao Aquino and driven by Anthony Elo Padayao Lazaro, 39, a resident of Barangay 11 San Fernando, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. Police said Lazaro holds a professional driver’s license. His passenger was identified as Mark Christian Aday Bonifacio, 40, a resident of Barangay 15 San Roque, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.

Initial police investigation showed that Laureta was traveling northbound on Padsan Bridge when the motorcycle struck the rear portion of the Nissan Patrol, which was stationary and parked on the eastern side of the road, facing north.

The impact sent the motorcycle crashing onto the road, throwing Laureta and Flores to the ground. Police said the motorcycle, along with Laureta, caught fire shortly after the collision.

Bystanders, along with responding paramedics and police officers, attempted to extract Laureta from the burning motorcycle, but rescuers had difficulty as his legs were reportedly trapped, causing the motorcycle to move whenever they tried to pull him free.

Flores sustained injuries to different parts of her body and was taken by responding DPS paramedics to the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Laureta was declared dead due to traumatic head injury, according to attending physician Dr. Rodrigo L. Catcatan Jr. of the City Health Office.