Girl, 15, dead in accident

CEBU, Philippines - A 15-year-old girl was killed while two others were injured after the SUV they were riding hit a parked delivery van before ramming a concrete electric post along the national highway Barangay Libjo, Tabogon town, last Thursday afternoon.

Angelina Alota, 15, of Barangay Bantigue, Bantayan town, was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at the Felipe Verallo Hospital in Bogo City due to severe injuries.

She was seated beside the driver, her uncle Natividad “Dado” Alota, 52, of San Remigio town, who suffered serious injuries. The fatality’s mother, Analyn, 37, seated behind the driver, was also injured   Natividad and Analyn were rushed to the same hospital but the former was later transferred to the Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City.

Victims reportedly came from Cebu City on board a Mitsubishi Adventure with conduction permit number 7CY-569 heading home to Tabogon town when Natividad allegedly fell asleep while driving.

Earlier that day Natividad drove his wife to the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City around 7 a.m. for her flight to Caticlan, Aklan. He then went to Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, to take Analyn and Angelina for a ride.

PO3 Epifanio Comedido Jr., investigator, said after Natividad fell asleep he missed turning at a blind curve and rammed sacks of charcoal piled outside a store before hitting a Mitsubishi delivery van with license plate numbers PKJ-975 driven by Bernardito Olita, 34, of Abuyog, Leyte, and presently residing in Barangay Banban, Bogo City.

The delivery van was parked along the road as Olita was delivering liquor at the store.

Comedido said the Mistubishi Adventure deflected off the rear of the delivery van and before hitting the concrete electrical post.

“Guba gyud kaayo ang sakyanan mora’g nalukot,” he said in a phone interview.

Comedido added that Natividad had just learned how to drive. —/BRP (FREEMAN)