9-yr-old boy dies after hit by truck

CEBU, Philippines - A nine-year-old boy died after he was hit by a vehicle owned by a catering company while playing at a private driveway in Barangay Abucayan in Balamban town last Saturday afternoon.

Great Joseph Saratubias sustained serious injuries to his head when he was hit and pinned to the wall by the Toyota pick-up truck with plate number (GES-308) of Dian Catering Services based in Balamban town.

The driver, Peter Anghag Jumalon Jr., 39, of Barangay Pitogo, is now detained at the Balamban police stockade pending the filing of a case for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against him.

PO2 Godofredo Dumdum of the Balamban Police said the vehicle was in the area because the victim’s neighbor, Rolando Igot, availed of the catering company’s services.

Igot’s house is located in an elevated portion along the road.

The vehicle was about to leave Igot’s house and was moving down the narrow driveway when its breaks allegedly malfunctioned and Jumalon lost control of the steering wheel. The vehicle then went straight to the driveway where Saratubias was playing and hit the child.

As of yesterday, Dumdum said they were waiting for the child’s family to appear to initiate the filing of charges against Jumalon. The driver may be released from detention at 10 a.m. today if no complaint is lodged against him.

The vehicle is also in the custody of the police station.  (FREEMAN)