A pickup truck owned by the provincial government caused two deaths in San Andres town last Sunday when the vehicle strayed off the national highway and hit two kids on the sidewalk.
The official police report stated that the white Toyota Hi-Lux (A7 B765) assigned to the Provincial Tourism Office was traveling from Pandan to Virac on June 5, 2022 when the accident occurred at about 12:30 PM in front of the Bislig Elementary School.
The vehicle, driven by Marlon Zafe, 32, a resident of Gogon Centro, Virac, suddenly went into the left lane and the sidewalk, mowing down a nine-year-old boy on his bicycle and a 16-year-old girl walking 10 meters ahead of the boy.
The two victims were cousins and were on their way home when they were struck by the runaway pickup.
The impact was such that the pickup’s left fender and hood was damaged while the bicycle’s mangled parts were scattered in the immediate area, with only the handler bar left under the vehicle.
Both victims sustained numerous bodily injuries and were declared dead on arrival at the Juan M. Alberto Memorial District Hospital where they were brought by responding personnel of the MDRRMO San Andres.
Zafe told the police that the vehicle suddenly went out of control which led to the tragic accident.
He is currently detained at the custodial facility of the San Andres police station pending the filing of a criminal charge for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide.
His passengers at the time were Provincial Tourism Officer Carmel Bonifacio-Garcia, a businesswoman from Tabugoc, Pandan and the latter’s sister, a balikbayan resident from the United States of America.
As of presstime, the police have yet to determine why the vehicle went off its lane and slammed into the two victims.
In recent weeks, at least four people have been killed in vehicular accidents blamed on drivers falling asleep at the wheel or driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor.