Girl killed, three others hurt in truck accident

A canter truck crashed into a storage room and ran over four persons, including two children, who were packing dried fish at Barangay Gargato, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Hinigaran Municipal Police Station)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A 10-year-old girl died while three others, including a 12-year-old boy, were injured after a canter truck crashed into a storage room at Barangay Gargato, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental yesterday.

Police withheld the name of the fatality, while two of the wounded victims were identified as Klana Joy Parreno, 18, and Myra Bacolinao, 24, both residents of the said village.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Necerato Sabando, town police chief, said Parreno and Bacolinao were packing dried fish, while the minors were helping them, when the truck crashed into the storage room around 10:45 a.m.

Sabando said that 36-year-old Jumo Potueco, also an employee, drove the truck since the keys were left in the vehicle. The owner or the truck driver was not around when it happened, he added.

“Sinakyan niya yung truck, aatras lang daw, pero inaccelerate niya, at sa sobrang lakas, dumiretso doon sa nagrerepack ng mga daing,” Sabando said, adding that the 10-year-old girl was ran over by the vehicle.

Sabando said the three other victims suffered minor injuries.

Potueco is detained at Hinigaran Municipal Police Station and will be facing charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple physical injuries, and damage to properties.

“Umiiyak siya dahil sa nangyaring aksidente,” he added.