The accident site where a boy was killed after getting hit by a motorcycle. | Photo courtesy of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – A Grade 3 pupil died shortly after he was hit by a passing motorcycle as he was crossing the Tiangue Road to get to his school in Brgy. Babag, Lapu-Lapu City at around 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
John (not his real name), 9, died at 8:30 a.m. as he was being treated for his head injuries at the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital. He was on his way to school when he got hit by the passing motorcycle.
Lapu-Lapu City police said that boy landed hard on the pavement, which caused his death.
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Police Lieutenant Colonel Christian Torres, the spokesperson of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said that John was from Purok Rambo in Brgy. Babag. He lived just across the elementary school.
“Ang atbang ang iya nang eskwelahan. Mao na atoang tan-awon kung naa bay tarong nga pedestrian lane dinha, at the same time naa bay gwardiya, tanod o police nga mo-assist sa mga molabang,” Torres said in an interview with CCTN 47.
(His school is just across. That’s why we will check if there is a pedestrian lane there at the same time of there is a guard, barngay tanod or police who can assist those who are crossing.)
How boy was killed
Torres said that the motorcycle driver claimed to be driving on the road’s north bound lane at a “regular speed” since he was aware that he was within a school zone. However, the boy suddenly crossed the road.
“Matud sa driver nga kalit nga nilabang ang bata maong wala na siyay time nga mo-manuever o molihay sa bata. Igo-igo ra man [ang speed]. Wala man gani kaayo na injured ang driver nga atoang gi-custody ron. Minor ra, ” he said.
(According to the driver, the boy suddenly crossed and he had no time to maneuver or avoid the boy. He said his speed was not that fast. The driver who is in our custody wasn’t even injured, just minor.)
Torres said that the 21-year-old driver even swerved to the opposite lane to avoid hitting the boy. In the process, his motorcycle hit two other motorcycles that were on the other lane.
The collision also injured the two other motorcycle riders, Torres added.
Respect pedestrian lanes, school zones
Because of what happened, Torres said that complaints for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide with physical injuries will be filed against the 21-year-old driver.
Meanwhile, Torres is urging other drivers to learn from the Babag accident. He said that drivers should always be mindful when traveling near schools, intersections and pedestrian lanes.
“Atoa gyud nang bantayan ang school zone. Magbinantayon gyud ta nga momenor, mao man gyud nay basic sa mga motorist. Then, defensive driving gyod ta pirmi aron malikayan nato nang ingon ana nga aksidente,” said Torres.
(We should really be careful in school zones. We should slow down, that’s the most basic rule for motorists. Then, we should really practice defensive driving to avoid accidents.)