Bus kills Housemaid

CEBU, Philippines - A 15-year-old house helper died after she was ran over by a minibus at around 9:45 a.m. yesterday along the national highway of Barangay Tina-an, Naga city.

The police was only able to identify the fatality as Nelda, a resident of Barangay Butong, Argao and working as house helper for a family in the said city. The employers of the victim allegedly forgot what her surname is.

Naga City police have now in their custody William Pongan, 50, the driver of EDC bus liner bearing plate numbers GWP-915 that hit Nelda.

PO3 Francisco Codeñera, in an interview over DYSS Super Radyo, said that Nelda and her boss were walking along the national highway when the victim suddenly crossed the street. Pongan, a resident of Poblacion I, Carcar City who was driving towards Cebu City told police he was caught off guard and it was already too late to step on the brakes to evade the victim.

After the incident, Pongan allegedly get off the vehicle immediately and fled to avoid being mauled by the bystanders.

He later surrendered himself to the police station while the victim was rushed to South General Hospital where she was declared dead by the attending physician due to fatal injuries she sustained on her head and different parts of her body.— Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB (THE FREEMAN)