Ambulance ‘kills’ lola, injures grandson

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An ambulance driver is in police custody following a vehicular incident that killed a grandmother and injured her 2-year-old grandson.

The incident happened 7:15 a.m. of July 11, 2021 on the national highway along Barangay Tiring, Cabatuan, Iloilo.

Captain Myles Dieron, Cabatuan police chief, identified the fatality as Elena Muyuela, 71, a resident of the nearby Barangay Pungtod, Cabatuan.

She was carrying the two-year-old boy in her arms when the ambulance hit them.

Staff Sergeant Joemarie Barrios, Cabatuan PNP traffic investigator, said the impact tossed away Muyuela and the boy.

The ambulance driven by Michael Castroverde 39, of Barangay San Nicolas Calinog, Iloilo, was supposed to bring a woman who was about to give birth to a hospital in Iloilo City.

“He was navigating a curved area when he hit the two victims,” Barrios said.

The lola and her apo were in fact almost on the middle of the road when the accident occurred.

Barrios noted that the vehicle’s blinker and siren were on.

Castroverde was expectedly speeding but he tried to apply the brakes when he saw the victim.

The ambulance’s brake got stuck and rendered the vehicle immobile.

Barrios said Muyuela and John Ethan were taken to the nearby Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital, but the lady was declared dead on arrival.

The boy was later referred to Western Visayas Medical Center for treatment.

Castroverde’s passenger was later ferried by the local hospital’s ambulance to a hospital in Iloilo City.

Barroca said the driver is now behind bars and will be charged for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and serious physical injury.