ILOCOS NORTE – A seven-year-old boy died after being hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) along the highway of Barangay Mariquet in Solsona on Friday morning.
The victim was identified as Edmark Rhian Respicio, a grade 1 pupil.
According to Chief Inspector Rodelio Santos, Edmark Rhian Respicio was helping a neighbor in clearing tree debris caused by super typhoon Lawin when the accident happened.
The boy was said to have crossed the side of the road and got hit by an approaching SUV.
"May karga-karga siyang maliliit na sanga ng puno at itatapon sana niya sa kabilang bahagi ng highway. Bigla siyang nag-cross kaya dito na siya nabundol ng sasakyan," Santos said.
(He was carrying tree branches to the side of the highway. He was hit when he suddenly crossed the road.)
The driver of the SUV, elementary teacher Lucena Liban, fled the scene, leaving the boy along the road. She directly went to the police station to turn herself in.
Liban claimed that she was driving slowly since there were debris on the road.
"Mga 40-45 [kilometers per hour] lang ang tinatakbo ko. Aksidente po iyon at hindi ko po kagustuhan na makabangga po," Liban said.
(I was running at 40-54 kph. It was an accident, and I did not want to hit anyone.)
Liban faces a case of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide.