Truck hits and kills 11-year-old girl

CEBU, Philippines - An eleven-year-old girl was killed while her six-year-old companion was seriously injured after the bicycle they were riding was sideswiped by a truck in Barangay Ticad, Bantayan town, Cebu, last Friday afternoon.

Police identified the fatality as Lovely Jane Teaño and the injured girl as Jamaica Mae Dawa.

PO2 Jeoram Desucatan of the Bantayan Police Station said the accident happened at past 4 p.m. while the girls were biking their way home from the market. Teaño was driving the bicycle.

The girls were traversing the lane when a yellow Isuzu six-wheeler truck with license plate numbers YBC 722, which was driven by Ceferino Pastrana Jr., 32, accidentally sideswiped the bicycle.

Teaño was thrown beneath the wheels while Dawa was thrown some meters away, said Desucatan.

The victims were rushed to the Bantayan District Hospital but Teaño no longer made it there alive. Dawa is still being confined for her injuries.

Pastrana, of Barangay Talisay, Santa Fe, surrendered to the police.

Desucatan said the truck came from Sta. Fe and was on its way to Madridejos, bringing livestock feeds.

The driver was reportedly running at moderate speed and did not notice the victims. He was not also under the influence of liquor, the police investigator said.

There were also a lot of students from the nearby Bantayan Central Elementary School, where an activity was being held, said Desucatan.

The driver reportedly only learned that he hit the girls when residents called his attention.

The driver is now detained and will face a charge for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and physical injury. — (FREEMAN)