Taxi kills woman, injures minor

CEBU, Philippines - A 50-year-old woman died while a minor was injured after they were a hit by a taxi in Barangay Dakit, Barili, Cebu Saturday morning.

Eliza Emnacen and a 12-year-old girl got hit by a taxi driven by Joenery Restauro, 32, who reportedly fell asleep while driving. The taxi was hired to travel from Moalboal to Cebu City by two passengers.

SPO3 Elmer Opsima, desk officer, said that when the driver fell asleep, the taxi went off the road and rammed into the house and store of barangay captain Elma Bargamento.

The taxi cab was owned and operated by Cebu City 6 Sense Corporation in Talisay City, Cebu.

He added that Emnacen and the minor were buying at the store when the incident happened at 7:20 AM.

Restauro, Emnacen and the minor sustained injuries and were brought to the Barili District Hospital but later that day, Emnacen died.

Opsima said that the two passengers on board the taxi were not hurt. He also said that the vehicular accident could have killed more had it been a sunny day.

“Maayo gane kay uwan-uwan atong panahona kay daghan unta madamay ato. Kato na area kay dapit man sa waiting shed nga daghan mag-atang dira nga mga habal-habal driver ug mga pasahero,” he said.

He said that the taxi operator promised to shoulder the medical expenses of the minor who got injured and the burial expenses of Emnacen. The company will also pay for the damages incurred on the property of Bargamento.

Opsima added that the barangay captain will not pursue the case anymore but Emnacen’s family will still file charges against the driver.

Restauro is currently detained at the Barili Police Station. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/ATO (FREEMAN)