Ambulance kills senior citizen in La Castellana

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – A 72-year-old woman died after she was hit by an ambulance in Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday.

Police identified the victim as “Maria,” a resident of the village.

Investigation showed that she had been riding a tricycle to the town proper when she saw her son on a motorcycle traveling in the opposite direction.

She asked the tricycle driver to stop, and when she alighted, she suddenly crossed the road and was hit by an ambulance traveling in the same direction shortly after 9 a.m.

She was taken to a hospital, where she was declared dead.

Police Capt. Jose Michael Muñez, deputy chief of the La Castellana Municipal Police Station, said the ambulance was driven by a 47-year-old job order casual employee of Binalbagan town who was on his way to pick up student scholars in La Castellana and transport them to Isabela.

Muñez said their investigation indicated that the ambulance was reportedly speeding and that the victim suddenly crossed the road without caution.

He said both parties initially talked, but police have yet to determine the victim’s family’s decision regarding the case.

Muñez added that the ambulance driver was released after completing the 18-hour reglementary detention.