6 hurt as ambulance rams fruit store in Kidapawan City

COTABATO CITY — Six villagers were badly hurt after an ambulance rammed a roadside fruit store and three motorcycles in Kidapawan City, Cotabato province early Wednesday, September 4.

In separate reports on Thursday morning, September 5, the Kidapawan City Police Office and Brig. Gen. James Gulmatico, director of the Police Regional Office-12, said the driver of the ambulance that figured in the accident is now detained. He will be prosecuted for reckless imprudence that caused damages to property and serious injuries to six individuals.

Witnesses told police investigators and reporters who responded to the incident that the ambulance, owned by the local government unit of Roxas, an upland town in Cotabato province, first swerved with force towards the side of a long curve in a stretch the Katipunan-Sikitan Highway, hit three motorcycles parked along the route and plowed through a fruit store.

Personnel of the Kidapawan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office had confirmed that six individuals, one of them a child, were hurt in the accident. They were immediately transported by emergency responders to a nearby hospital.

The ambulance was not carrying any patient, according to police investigators.

The mayor of President Roxas, Jonathan Mahimpit, was quoted in Thursday’s radio reports here as saying that he will provide the victims of the accident with financial support that they can spend for their medication.