De Vega’s son killed in mishap

Instead of roses for loved ones, Lydia de Vega-Mercado will receive flowers for a dearly departed son this Valentine’s Day.
The heart-breaking news came after her four-year-old son, John Michael, was killed yesterday morning after being run over by a passenger jeepney while playing outside the Mercado residence on 69 Unrubia St. in Project 4, Quezon City.

He died on the spot.

Lydia’s husband Paolo said the accident took place at 8:30 a.m. after the jeepney, driven by Knorlee Valiente Tamayo and plying the Cogeo-Cubao route, ran over John Michael who was trying to cross the street with his playmates. Lydia was inside the house when it happened while Paolo was at work, being an engineer at Meralco-Tutuban.

"Napakasakit nito," said Lydia, the former Asian track queen who could barely speak on the phone.

It was Tamayo himself who brought the victim to the Quirino labor hospital in Project 4 where John Michael was declared dead on arrival. Paolo said that at first, the driver tried to run away but was prevailed upon by several bystanders who witnessed the tragic incident.

"Parang gusto pa daw mag-hit-and-run pero may mga nakakita kaya hindi na niya siguro naituloy. Siya na din ang nagdala ng bata sa ospital," said Paolo.

John Michael’s remains were brought to the crime lab of the National Bureau of Investigation for autopsy.

"Ang bilis ng pangyayari," the father added.

John Michael’s remains will lie in state at the family residence. The son, who turned four last Oct. 31, was the second of three children of the Mercado couple, the eldest being Stefanie, 11, and the youngest being Jonathan, who just turned 2.

According to Paolo, the family was still trying to recover from the trauma of nearly losing Jonathan to a ruptured appendix last November. Jonathan underwent operation twice and had stayed in the hospital for nearly two months.

"Tapos ngayon ito naman," said Paolo.

Senior Police Officer 1 Jaime Ramos, officer on case said the boy died instantly because of the strong impact of the vehicle on the victim who was thrown several meters away. — With reports from Pia Lee-Brago