Boy, 7, dies in motorbike crash

MANILA, Philippines - A seven-year-old boy died while his parents and elder brother were hurt when the motorcycle they were riding collided head-on with a passenger jeepney in Pasig City yesterday.

Justine Formilles of Phase 6, Camarin, Caloocan City died on the spot from massive head and body injuries.

His father, Simporiano Formilles Jr., 36, also sustained head and body injuries and is confined at the Pasig City General Hospital, where he was brought along with his wife, Gemma.

Bystanders rushed Justine’s elder brother, Viance, eight, to the Mission Hospital.

The unidentified driver abandoned the passenger jeepney (DFY-490) and is now the subject of a manhunt ordered by city police chief Senior Superintendent Mario Rariza.

Rariza said the Formilleses were on their way to Binangonan on a motorcycle without a plate number when they met an accident along East Bank Road in Barangay Sta. Lucia at about 4 a.m. yesterday.

Senior Police Officer 2 Carlito Guillarte said the Formilles couple were wearing helmets while their children, who were seated between them, were not.

Justine landed on the jeepney’s hood while his parents and brother were thrown to the pavement, some meters away from the collision site.      

Guillarte said the passenger jeepney fell to its side but there are no reports of injuries among its passengers.

Rariza said they are preparing to charge the driver with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries, damage to property and abandonment of the victims.