Kid dies, 12 hurt in road accident

CEBU, Philippines - What supposed to be a family reunion ended in tragedy when a boy was killed when the vehicle he and his relatives were riding rammed a tree after the driver fell asleep along the national highway of Barangay Canlumacad, Santander early morning Sunday.

Police said the lone fatality was thee-year-old Nika Olalo, whose father was also the driver of the vehicle and her mother was also among those seriously injured.

Nika was allegedly thrown out of the Suzuki multi cab after her mother, Jocelyn Olalo, 36 lost grip of her due to the impact. The girl suffered from bruises and serious head injuries while Jocelyn sustained a fracture in her right hand and a lacerated wound in her right foot. Both were seated in the front seat beside the driver.

Aside from the driver, Camilo Olao, who only sustained minor injuries, others who were wounded were Daniel Olalo, 7; Danilyn Olalo, 8; Donamae Olalo, 5; Quirino Barrel Jr., 37; Ramil Minotindos, 17; Nonoy Dizon, 30; Jessie Barrel, 28; Anna Liza Barrel, 34; Amando Matugas, 22 and Jerry Montejo. All victims are residents of Quiot Pardo, Cebu City.

Police said the black Suzuki multicab bearing plate numbers YAN 276, driven by Camilo with his relatives as passengers were bound for Barangay Bato, Samboan where they were supposed to ride a vessel for Sipalay, Negros Occidental to attend a family reunion. They left Cebu City for Samboan about 4:00 in the morning.

On their way to Santander town, Jocelyn claimed she noticed that Camilo sometimes take a nap prompting her to call his attention and asked one of his relatives to substitute him but the latter refused.

When they arrived on the national highway of Barangay Canlumacad, Camilo allegedly fell asleep making their vehicle to swerve extremely to the right.

Camilo woke up when Jocelyn shouted at him and she tried to jump off from the vehicle.

Camilo allegedly tried to step on the brakes but his foot landed on the accelerator making their vehicle ram a tree on the roadside.

PO1 Anthony Aba of Santander Police Station said they found the unconscious Nika few meters away from the vehicle, while Jocelyn’s foot was pinned inside the front seat.

“Ang impact naa sa right side kay nalikay man sa driver nga adto bangga niya,” Aba told The FREEMAN.

Personnel of the Santander Rural Health Unit assisted the victims and brought them to Oslob District Hospital where Nika was declared dead on arrival. Other victims were referred to Velez Hospital in Cebu City.

Aba said relatives of Camilo refused to file a case against him.   (FREEMAN NEWS)