A two-year-old boy was killed while his pregnant mother was injured by a tree that fell down after it was hit by heavy equipment in Aloguinsan town, southwest Cebu.
Police identified the fatality as Danix Gonzaga Abendan. The boy’s mother, Genevie, who is eight months pregnant, sustained bruises in the body.
The accident happened last Monday in sitio Bairan, barangay Esperanza where a road construction was ongoing. Motorists use the road as a shorter route to Carcar City.
Insp. Gilfred Baroman, chief of the Aloguinsan police, said the victims were aboard a motorcycle driven by Genevie’s husband Roldan. The family was headed for Carcar City for Genevei’s prenatal checkup.
Roldan stopped in an uphill portion of the road since there was a grader blocking the road.
The heavy equipment was operated by Jerry Abamo, 41.
Genevie told police they did not see any signage to warn that of ongoing road repairs ahead.
Roldan decided to backtrack since the road was impassable and was about to make a U-turn when the grader rolled backward and hit the motorcycle. The grader then hit an Ipil-ipil tree, which fell on the mother and son. They were brought to the Carcar City Hospital where the boy was declared dead.
The equipment driver was brought to the police station but was later released after the owner, Coronel Company, reached an amicable settlement with the victims’ family.
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