Car hits family’s pushcart; 2 dead, 3 hurt

MANILA, Philippines - A motorist who reportedly fell asleep at the wheel smashed a family’s makeshift home – a pushcart parked on the curb – in Quezon City before dawn yesterday, leaving two persons dead and three others injured.

The motorist, John Oyos, 33, fled the scene of the accident, leaving behind the Honda Civic (WTF-308) he was driving and a female passenger, according to Inspector Marlon Meman, commander of the Quezon City Police District Traffic Sector 2.

Realma Cerbito, 7, was killed on the spot while her father, Edgar, 37, died at the East Avenue Medical Center.

The rest of their family – Cerbito’s wife Rowena, 37; and their two children Edron, 5, and Miguelito, 2 – were also injured.

Residents helped the victims into a taxi, whose driver brought them to the hospital for treatment, Meman said.

He said the accident happened along Don Mariano Avenue when Oyos’ Civic hit the pushcart, where the five victims were sleeping, at around 3 a.m.

“The wooden pushcart was badly crushed by the impact,” Meman said.

Oyos’ passenger, who was not identified, claimed he was driving home to Smile Citihomes Subdivision when he fell asleep behind the wheel, Meman said.