Truck runs over child at height of Pier 3 fire

CEBU, Philippines - One tragedy brought another when a two-year-old boy was ran over by a prime mover that was trying to avoid the traffic jam in barangay San Roque brought about by a fire that hit a slum area near Pier 3 along MacArthur Blvd.

Two siblings of the boy were also injured in the incident.

The three children were reportedly on their way to the fire scene to check what was happening when the accident happened shortly before 5 p.m.

The fatality was identified as Jorlan Delan. He was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center said, Sonny Mingane, the ambulance driver of barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City, which passed the area and was asked to assist.

His elder siblings, Jasmine, 7, and Jeralyn, 5, were rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center by another ambulance.

According to a report over radio station dyAB, the truck ran over the child.

The fire broke out at around 4:34 p.m. in corner MacArthur Blvd. and V. Sotto St. in barangay Tinago.

Fire investigators estimate that between 30 to 40 were razed and initial damage to property was pegged at P150,000.

Luckily nobody was injured in the fire, which was put under control in 20 minutes.

The general alarm or Task Force Alpha was declared.

Firefighters from Lapu-lapu City, Mandaue City, Consolacion, Talisay City and other fire volunteers responded.

They were not able to control the fire immediately because aside from the hot weather, they encountered problems along the way such as the narrow pathways and the huge crowd. The houses were also made of light materials.

The fire reportedly started from the house of one Mario Nuez, a barangay tanod, though the latter insisted that it was impossible because they have no electrical connection.

However, Cebu City Fire Marshall Esmael Codilla said that a kid could have played with a combustible material that could have triggered the fire. He said they will still continue to investigate though to determine who will be held liable of the incident.

The Delan kids reportedly were with a group of kibitzers, who rushed to the scene of the fire.

The truck that ran over them was driven by Rodrigo Salvador, 31, who resides at the North Reclamation Area, barangay Mabolo.

Salvador claimed that he was about to park the vehicle at T. Padilla St. when the incident happened.

The suspect was driving a prime mover with plate numbers GWB-245 owned by Go Transport based in T. Padilla St.

Salvador, who alleged that he did not see the kids crossing the street when he was about to make a U-turn to avoid the traffic jam, said he was only able to hear the shouts of the people telling him to stop because he ran over a child.

The suspect alleged that it was really impossible for him to notice the kids crossing the road as he was driving a huge vehicle.

A case for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide with physical injuries will be filed against Salvador, who is now detained at the Traffic division. — Lesley Caminade and Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ(FREEMAN NEWS)