BACOLOD CITY – A grade 10 student who attended a Christmas Party in school, was killed after he was run over by a truck in Barangay 2 Poblacion, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental on Thursday, Dec. 15.
The name of the 16-year-old boy, a resident of Barangay Cudangdang, was withheld.
Based on a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage posted on social media, a group of students, including the victim, were crossing the pedestrian lane from their school.
A traffic enforcer then can be seen signaling vehicles to slow down.
However, the alleged speeding truck driven by 47-year-old Dante Sebuguero of Sagay City, did not stop nor slowed down.
E.B. Magalona police chief Major Kenneth Jay Gratones said the truck hit the victim and dragged him a few meters away from the pedestrian lane, while other students moved backwards.
Gratones said the enforcer himself was almost sideswiped by the truck.
Gratones said the victim succumbed to head injuries.
He said that Sebuguero tested negative in the drug test, and was not under the influence of liquor when the accident happened.
Charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide were filed on Friday, Dec. 16 against Sebuguero.
Meanwhile, Mayor Marvin Malacon was saddened about the incident.
“We strongly condemn the driver of the truck and his reckless driving that snatched the life of our young Saraviahanon in an instant,” Malacon said in a statement.
Malacon met with the victim’s parents yesterday, and extended an initial cash assistance of P50,000 for their son’s burial.
This is on top of the funeral assistance that the local government and the Office of third district rep. Francisco Benitez usually gives to the constituents.