Dump truck runs over vendor, 4-year-old boy in Mandaue

The truck that ran over a mother and son in barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City.

A 35-year-old woman and her 4-year-old son whom she tried to pull off the road were killed after a dump truck ran over them in barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City yesterday morning.

Jenalyn Estenzo sold lansones on the sidewalk along M.L. Quezon Street.

Witnesses said her toddler son tried to cross the road and that his mother chased him. Both got run over by a six-wheeler truck, whose driver didn’t immediately notice them until after the impact.

Police said rescuers had to use a jack to remove the victims.

Truck driver Anastacio Hermida, 49, said  he stopped to give way to a crossing van but didn’t see the woman or the  child.

The driver Anastacio Hermida was arrested after the incident.

Hermida said that when he drove forward, the truck bounced. Truck helpers alighted and saw the mother and son under the truck.

The truck was heading back to Naga City after delivering sand and gravel in Mandaue city.

The accident caused heavy traffic in the area.

City planning officer Florentino Nimor said authorities will put up barriers in the middle of ML Quezon Street near the flyover and nearby establishments to prevent vehicles from making a U-turn there and people crossing. A pedestrian crossing zone is located a few meters from the accident site.

Jenalyn’s husband Agustin said he was at work in Profoods when the police called him. He said his wife sold fruit to augment the family’s income.

The couple has three other children aged 12, 10 and eight.

PO2 Ruben Dayon said reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide could be filed against the driver, who was detained at the Centro Police Station. The driver told reporters he wanted to apologize to the family for the accident.