Girl killed, 3 hurt in road accidents

CEBU, Philippines - An eight-year-old girl was killed while at least three people were injured in two separate vehicular accidents in different parts of Cebu.

Katherine Jane Cañete of sitio Planta, Poblacion, Toledo City was killed on the spot after she was hit by an Isuzu Elf truck owned by the Toledo City government. The vehicle was driven by Epifanio Panugan, Jr., 34, of Barangay Cambang-ug.

The victim and her six-year-old brother were walking on their way home from school along Magsaysay Hills Extension around 5 p.m. last Wednesday when she was accidentally hit by the vehicle.

Panugan, who was temporarily detained at Toledo Police Station, was released by police yesterday after he settled the matter with the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, three persons, including two women, were injured when the tricycle they were riding turned upside down after it was bumped by a vehicle of Carcar Police Station in Barangay Ocaña, Carcar on Wednesday.

SPO1 Nestor Gascon, driver of the vehicle, was reportedly on his way to the police station after conducting a roving patrol when the vehicle accidentally bumped the tricycle around 10 p.m. Both vehicles were damaged.

Injured were tricycle driver Eduardo Aro, 45, and his passengers Melodina Rosales, 42, and Amalia Alegado, 45.

The victims were rushed to the Carcar District Hospital and were later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Jesus Gaquing said he will require Supt. Teofilo Siclot, chief of Carcar Police Station, to submit a report on the accident while Gascon will be placed under investigation. — Niña G. Sumacot/LPM (THE FREEMAN)