Boy dead, two hurt after van hits tricycle in Argao

CEBU, Philippines - A 13-year-old boy was killed while two others were injured after a Mitsubishi freezer van hit a tricycle last Thursday evening in Barangay Guiwanon, Argao town.

Nico Mark Quiñunez Aliponga, 13, of Barangay Simala, Sibonga town, a passenger of the tricycle, died on the spot due to severe injuries after he was thrown off the tricycle into the pavement.

Tricycle driver Justine James Dolosa, 16, a resident of Barangay Simala, also suffered multiple injuries and is now in the intensive care unit of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Truck driver Walter Patindol, of Barangay Pitogo, Consolacion town, only sustained abrasions.

He is now detained at the Argao Police Station stockade pending charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injuries in court.

SPO3 Arvie Banate, Balamban investigator, said that Patindol was driving the Mitsubishi freezer van with license plate numbers SDX-831 heading south while the tricycle was approaching from the opposite direction.

The victims just came from a junk shop in Barangay Taloot where they just sold some scrap metal for P30.

Dolosa suddenly made a u-turn into the other lane without noticing the approaching van and his tricycle was hit.

Banate said the accident was really the fault of Dolosa and not of Patindol.

“Wa man gyud mi nakit-ang skid marks sa dalan,” Banate said in a phone interview.

As of yesterday the family of Aliponga was still in the process of settling the matter with the truck driver.  (FREEMAN)