18-Year-Old Student Hit by Police Ambulance Dies

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An 18-year-old woman died nearly a week after she was hit by a police ambulance in Iloilo City.

The Iloilo City Police Office–Traffic Enforcement Unit confirmed that Margaret Beatrice Niñalga, a first-year BS Pharmacy student at the University of San Agustin and a resident of Barangay Kinamaligan, Masbate City, died around 2 p.m. on June 10.

Niñalga, who was temporarily residing at Bankers’ Village in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City, was struck while crossing a pedestrian lane along B. Aquino Avenue in Barangay Dungon B, Jaro at around 7:40 a.m. on June 4.

She sustained a head injury and lost consciousness.

She was immediately brought to the Asia Pacific Medical Center Iloilo for treatment.

Patrolman Cesar Hablero II, a TEU investigator, said the ambulance involved was placed under custody, but the driver was released after his reglementary detention period expired.

Hablero added that the victim’s family held initial settlement talks and had yet to decide whether to pursue legal action.

It was found that the ambulance was not transporting a patient or responding to a medical emergency at the time.

The vehicle was en route to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office headquarters at Camp Sumagaysay in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, for a wellness check on police personnel.