Ambulance kills boy in Sibonga

CEBU, Philippines – An 11-year-old boy died after he was hit by an ambulance in the national highway of Barangay Sabang, Sibonga town Tuesday afternoon.

Police believed John Paul Pañares died of severe head injuries and bruises he sustained on his body after he was hit by a speeding ambulance driven by Angelito Serencio, 40.

The ambulance, a Mitsubishi L300 with plate numbers SHS-358, is owned by the Municipality of Santander.

PO2 Edarlino Bacusmo of the Sibonga Police said Serencio, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Santander, was on his way to bring a patient to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City at around 4 p.m..

But upon reaching Barangay Sabang, the victim, who just got out of Sabang Elementary School where he was studying, reportedly suddenly crossed the road to get a ball he was playing with. The ambulance suddenly hit him, throwing him some meters away into the pavement.

The driver immediately got off the vehicle, took the child inside it and rushed him, together with the other patient, to VSMMC.

Bacusmo said the aunt of the fatality reported to their police station yesterday morning that the child was already dead.

The police said they are still waiting for the decision of the fatality's family whether to file a case against the driver or not.

Serencio was temporarily released to assist the victim's family at the hospital.

The municipal government of Santander, Bacusmo said, shouldered all the hospital bills. (FREEMAN)