4-year-old boy killed, father hurt in Kabankalan crash

BACOLOD CITY — A 4-year-old boy was killed and his 26-year-old father was critically injured after they were struck by a sports utility vehicle in Purok Taytay, Barangay Oringao, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday.

Lt. Col. John Ganzon, chief of the Kabankalan City Police Station, said the child was with his father, who was washing their tricycle at a roadside carwash area, when the SUV veered off the road.

Police said the SUV was driven by a 39-year-old construction manager from Pasig City who was traveling with his wife and two children.

Ganzon said the driver allegedly dozed off, causing the vehicle to swerve toward the two victims.

The victims were reportedly dragged by the SUV toward the concrete portion of a house, while the impact also destroyed the makeshift carwash structure.

The child died at the scene, while his father sustained serious injuries and was set to be transferred to a hospital in Bacolod City for further treatment.

Ganzon said the driver admitted to police that he had dozed off while traveling from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, to Bacolod City.

The driver was also injured, while his wife and two children were unharmed.

Ganzon said the victims’ family has yet to decide whether to file charges against the driver.