2 dead, a child injured in hit-and-run incidents

CEBU, Philippines - Two died in a vehicular accident when a bus accidentally hit a public utility jeepney along the national highway of Barangay Magay, Compostela town on Friday evening.

The fatalities were identified as Jenie Aves, 26, a resident of Barangay Caridad, Tuburan and Michelle Orio, 35, of Barangay Poblacion, Liloan town.

Traffic investigator Ramir Maglasang of Compostela Police Station disclosed that both victims were on board a PUJ with plate number GXP-584 driven by Consiso Orosco, 58, a resident of Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City.

At about 6 p.m., a Hino Bus with plate number 332 CEH driven by Maxilom Santiago, 30, a resident of Barangay Pajo, Tabuelan, accidentally hit the PUJ, severely injuring the two victims.

Maglasang said that Aves died on the spot while Orio was rushed to Danao District Hospital but was later pronounced dead by the attending physician.

According to Maglasang, the bus, which was heading north, may have tried to overtake another vehicle and hit the left portion of the PUJ, which was heading south.

The two victims had been sitting at the left side of the PUJ when it collided with the bus.

Santiago fled from the crime scene after the incident, leaving the bus he was driving behind.

In San Fernando, a nine-year-old boy sustained injuries as he wasthrown into a canal after he got hit by a motorcycle and then a minibus along the national road in Barangay Pitalo, San Fernando on Friday afternoon around 4:20 p.m. as he was on his way home from school.

According to PO1 Ernest Laspuña, Joshua Baloro, a grade four student of Pitalo Elementary School, was crossing the street on his way home from school when he was hit by a motorcycle travelling towards Naga.  The impact caused the boy to be thrown into the path of an incoming minibus bound for Carcar City.

The boy was hit again and landed in the canal. He was brought to South General Hospital for proper medication.

The driver of the motorcycle immediately fled after the incident. However, witnesses managed to take note of the plate number of the motorcycle: 7D-6609.

Police said they are tracing the whereabouts of the motorcycle and its driver.

The minibus driver, Victor Bayate, 41, a resident of Barangay Minolos, Barili and employed by Chan Transit was brought to the police station.

After arriving at a settlement agreement with the family of the victim, Bayate was released from prison.

The boy has been transferred to Vicente Sotto Medical Center and will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging scan to determine the extent of his injuries, all paid for by Chan Transit. (FREEMAN)