One of 7 victims in road accident dies in hospital

CEBU, Philippines - One of the seven people injured during the road accident along V. Rama Avenue last Monday passed away a few hours after she was brought to the hospital.

Clarita Cabañero, 38, of Carcar City, was brought to the hospital after she and the other victims were hit by the jeepney driven by Jose Maghanoy, 47. The driver is a resident of Cebu City.

Cabañero was standing at the pavement while waiting for a jeepney when the incident happened.

Joy Tumulak, operations chief of the City Traffic Operations Management said Cabañero succumbed to severe head injuries while being treated at the Cebu City Medical Center.

She died at past 2 p.m. and CITOM learned about her passing only around 6:00 p.m. on the same day.

Tumulak said Maghanoy is still under CITOM’s custody while awaiting the decision of the families of the victims on whether or not they will file charges against him. Tumulak said Maghanoy has reportedly offered to settle the matter with the victims’ families but no final word on the matter was released yesterday.

Cabañero was waiting for a jeepney when Maghanoy lost control of the steering wheel of his jeepney and hit Cabañero, Jasper Ian Gelimer, 10; Emmanuel Luciano, 11; Andrea Limpot, 11; Diane Hijara, 13, and Lyka Econas, 11, all of  Sitio Banawa and Diana Hijari, 13.

Depending on the outcome of the supposed negotiation between Maghanoy and the victims’ families, the traffic police have readied charges for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, serious physical injuries and damage to properties against the suspect./JMO (FREEMAN)