DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / March 3) – A five-year-old child died on the spot when his father, driving a motorcycle with four people on board, crashed into a house in Tugbok District here on Sunday, police said.
The father and two other passengers were reportedly injured and were rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Davao City Police Office spokesperson Captain Hazel Tuazon, quoting a blotter from Police Station 9 in Tugbok District, said mishap occurred at 7:30 p.m. in Purok 1, Manuel Guianga, involving a motorcycle with four people on board.
Killed was Dionesio Calumen Jr., 5 years old, a resident Purok 8, Costan Village in Manuel Guianga.
According to police investigation, the fatality’s father, Dionesio Calumen Sr., 25, drove the motorcycle traversing Manuel Guianga Road going to Barangay Tagakpan.
The motorcycle veered towards the left side of the road and bumped into the gate of Claudio Duani’s residence, police said.
A Central 911 paramedic responder declared the child as having “no signs of life” when rescuers came.
The two other passengers were Ronilo Gabonada Habel, 13, and Jonathan Espina, 38. The two and Calumen Sr. were both rushed to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for medical treatment as they sustained injuries during the incident.
Just hours before, an old woman was hit and dragged by a motorcycle in Elpidio Quirino Avenue here as well.
On Sunday morning, Encarnacion O. Bongcalon, 73, crossed the pedestrian lane fronting Santos Building. But upon reaching the opposite lane, she was suddenly hit by a Honda motorcycle owned by Alvin R. Tañeza, 27.
According to Tuazon, Tañeza is now under police custody for reckless driving. Speed limit in the area for light vehicles/motor vehicles is 40 kph.
Latest data from the Davao City Police Office – Traffic Enforcement Unit (DCPO-TEU) said there were 355 recorded road crash incidents in January of this year, involving a total of 682 vehicles. Leading the statistics are private cars at 38%, followed by motorcycles at 18%, and trucks at 11%.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has said he is “tired” of drivers’ behavior and urged them to respect pedestrian safety.
“Reckless drivers, if you would hit pedestrians, I will come after you. I will provide lawyer for the victims, and I will make sure you will go to jail,” he said in his speech during the opening of the Araw ng Dabaw celebration Friday last week. (Ian Carl Espinosa with reports from Antonio Colina IV / MindaNews)