Truck kills Grade 10 student

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A Grade 10 student who just came from a Christmas Party in school died after he was run over by a truck in Barangay 2 Poblacion, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental last Thursday.

The name of the 16-year-old male victim of Barangay Cudangdang was withheld.

Police Major Kenneth Jay Gratones, E.B. Magalona town police chief, said the victim was crossing the street when he was hit by a truck driven by 47-year-old Dante Sebuguero of Sagay City.

Based on a copy of a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage posted on social media, a traffic enforcer can be seen signaling vehicles to slow down, as a group of students, including the victim, was crossing the pedestrian lane from their school.

But the alleged speeding truck did not stop nor slow down. It even dragged the victim a few meters away from the pedestrian lane, while other students tried to evade it.

In fact, Gratones said the enforcer was almost sideswiped by the truck.

The teenage-victim succumbed to head injuries.

Gratones said that Sebuguero was negative on the drug test, nor was he drunk when the accident happened.

“It so happened lang na dasig lang gid ang padalagan niya ka truck and wala niya na na control,” Gratones said.

Charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide were filed yesterday against Sebuguero.

Meanwhile, Gratones said that policemen are being deployed in the area particularly during rush hours to ensure the students’ safety on the road, especially in crossing the streets.

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 assured them that he will personally help to see to it that they will get the justice they deserve.

The mayor also extended initial cash assistance of P50,000 to the family for the burial needs of their son.

This is on top of the funeral assistance that the local government and the Office of third district Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez usually gives to the constituents.

He also said that he will shoulder the travel expenses of some of the victim’s family members who are working outside the province, so they can go home before the victim is laid to rest.

He also offered to finance other funeral expenses as well as incidental fees arising from the legal proceedings of the case.