Cab hits, hurts four

CEBU, Philippines — Four persons, three of them minors and students, were rushed to a hospital after a taxi hit them while they were crossing a pedestrian lane yesterday morning along N. Bacalso Avenue in Barangay Poblacion Pardo, Cebu City.

The victims were identified as certain Melfred Potenciano, 11; Richard Alcantara, 15; Glaiza Mae Tago, five years old; and Cedrick Labrador, 30.

The driver of the said taxi was identified as a certain Norman Nacario, a resident of Talisay City, Cebu.

According to the investigator, Police Staff Sergeant Aboso, the accident happened around 7 a.m. yesterday. The taxi was travelling south when it hit the victims who were crossing the street. Due to the strong impact, some of the victims were thrown to the pavement.

After hitting the said victims, the taxi still went on to ram two more vehicles headed in the same direction. The drivers of the rammed vehicles reportedly did not sustain any injuries.

Aboso said Labrador has already been sent home from the hospital, but the minors are still under observation.

“Medyo grabe-grabe g’yud tung usa kay head-on, kay iyang ulo naigo man g’yud to sa windshield, katong duha naa to silay mga injury sa ilang lawas kay nalabay man g’yud to sila,” Aboso said.

Police Major John Kareen Escober, chief of Pardo Police station, said that the driver allegedly fell asleep while driving, and this resulted in the accident.

Right after the incident, the taxi driver underwent a liquor test, but came out negative, according to Escober.

Escober said that the driver will face charges for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries and damage to property since the victims were still undergoing treatment as of this writing. (FREEMAN)