While walking home from school: 3 students killed in road accident

CEBU, Philippines - At least three fourth year high school students were killed and three others were injured when they were hit by a speeding vehicle in Barangay Poblacion, Boljoon town Thursday afternoon.

Judy Ann Lomera, 18, died minutes later at the Boljoon Health Center while her classmates, Cristy Marie Estella, 18, and Joanne Marie Romero, 16, were declared dead moments after reaching Chong Hua hospital in Cebu City.

Injured were Nice Ancheta, 15; Melissa Mendez, 14; and Kynth Marie Mendez, all second year high school students.

They are all students of the Boljoon National High School.

Other injured were medical representatives Al-Dhinier Hadjula Sanaani, 26, of Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City, and Kristine Joyce Batucan, 26, of Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Both are now confined at the Cebu Doctors' University Hospital.

The students were on their way home from school walking along the bridge when a Toyota Vios Sedan driven by Sanaani suddenly swerved to the left and hit them.

The vehicle was registered under the name of Batucan but it was Sanaani who was driving at that time as Batucan was reportedly not feeling well.

Boljoon police chief, Insp. Dexter Basirgo, told The FREEMAN that the vehicle was returning to Cebu City from Santander town and that Sanaani may have fallen asleep while driving.

"Right lane gyud unta ni sila pero sa akong tan-aw nakatagpilaw ni si Sanaani," Basirgo said.

He said Sanaani lost control of the vehicle and directly hit the students.

"Nakalitan na siya wala na siya kabawi," Basirgo said.

The casualties were thrown off the bridge and plunged into the river while the other victims were pinned at the bridge.

Basirgo said that Sanaani claimed that he was only traveling about 60 to 70 kph at that time of the incident, contrary to the result of the initial investigation conducted by the police.

"Dili gyud to mao ang gikusgon sa dagan…naa gyud to sa 80 kph," Basirgo said.

The FREEMAN tried to interview Sanaani, who was wearing neck braces, at the hospital but failed as he has scheduled to undergo some medical examinations.

Marciana Mendez, mother of Kynth Marie, said her daughter and her two classmates, Melissa Mendez and Nice Ancheta, were heading home after their classes.

During the incident, she said her daughter was pinned down by the vehicle and had to be pulled out by rescuers.

"Morag niaksyon og labang, morag nawala siya sa iyang panan-aw pagmata na niya gibira na siya," she said.

After the incident, Mendez said her daughter arrived home crying and told her that she and her classmates met an accident and that they were badly injured.

Mendez said Nice, Melissa and her daughter were brought to Chong Hua Hospital around 6:00 p.m.

"Among kaon gabii usa ra gyud ka puso kay wala gyud me kwarta, karon wa pa man gani me pamahaw," she said.

But Mendez said she has no grudge with the driver of the vehicle.

"Wa ko maglagot uy. Naghilak lang ko kay kanang disgrasya di man gyud na nato nga mahibaw-an," she said.

She said that she is not pressing any charges against Sanaani if he would shoulder all the hospital expenses.

"Kung gastohan lang nila akong anak bahala og maundang sa eskwela basta ila lang ang tanang bago, basta ila lang panubagan," she said.

She said her daughter has undergone two minor operations to remove blood clots in her abdomen and right arm.

She said Kynth Marie, confined at Chong Hua's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, may undergo another minor surgery on Sunday or Monday.

The police are now preparing charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and serious physical injuries against Sanaani. -/LPM (FREEMAN)