Carnival owner charged for girl’s death

Police filed charges of negligence resulting in homicide and serious physical injuries against the owner of a mini-carnival and three of his employees for the death of a 10-year-old girl who was killed on Chrismas Day in an amusement ride accident.

Charged before inquest prosecutor Alfredo Barcelona Jr. were mini-carnival owner Roy Atienza and his three workers, Elmer Esguerra, 36, manager and Antonio Magas, 51, and his son Jeffrey, 20.

Esguerra and the Magas father and son are detained at the Marikina City police station while Atienza is at large.

Barcelona has yet to schedule the preliminary investigation of the incident, which claimed the life of Grade 4 pupil Catherine Diane Picardal and injured six others, including her elder sister, Kimberly.

"We are still waiting for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Atienza so we could put him behind bars," said Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., Marikina police chief.

According to Ramos, police crime scene investigators have yet to release its findings.

An initial police investigation showed that the bolt of the mechanical arm of the Octopus, also known as the Scramble Ride, gave way causing four baskets to hurtle at least 10 feet.

Esguerra and the Magas helped brought the victims to the hospital where the younger Picardal died during treatment.

Kimberly was transferred to the Medical City while the five others – Dianalyn Reyes, 12; Robin Tamayo, 15; Rudy Tamayo, 13; Raymond Abagon, 17, and Ronald Abagon, 15, were released after being treated at the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center.

Ramos said the mini-carnival had documents, including a P42,000 amusement tax receipt, to support its operations at the Riverbank Park in Barangay De la Peña.

An insurance firm employee had been daily coordinating with the family of the Picardal family to facilitate the burial of Catherine Diane and the continued hospitalization of Kimberly.

Meanwhile, rides in five mini-carnivals in the Riverbank received the green light yesterday to resume operations after a thorough safety inspection by personnel from the city’s engineering office.

However, Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando stood pat on her decision to shut down all rides at the accident scene while the police investigation is still ongoing.