Lipa City PIO critical, wife killed in road mishap

BATANGAS, Philippines – The information officer of the Lipa City government was critically injured while his wife was killed when a dump truck hit them Monday night.

Levi Lopez and his wife Haydee, both of Barangay Balintawak, were crossing the highway in Barangay Tambo, Lipa City, when a dump truck with license plate WDZ-656 hit them at about 9:30 p.m., said Superintendent Jacinto Malinao, city police chief.

Witnesses said Haydee died at the scene as she was dragged a few meters away.

Levi was rushed to the Mary Mediatrix Hospital. He was reported to be under observation at the intensive care unit as of press time, said Lipa civil registry chief Jun Sarmiento.

Truck driver Pacito Gagario Jr., 57, of Barangay Sico, Lipa, tried to escape but was arrested a few meters away from the scene.

Gagario told police he did not see the couple crossing the road as the area was dark. He was charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and serious physical injury before the city prosecutor’s office yesterday.