4-year-old girl buying food dies after being hit by SUV in Pasig

A four-year-old girl died after being hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) while crossing a street to buy food in Barangay Bambang, Pasig City, last Thursday afternoon.

In an exclusive “24 Oras” report by EJ Gomez on Monday, CCTV footage showed the child fall to the ground where she was run over by the SUV.

Several residents rushed to the child's side until the victim's mother arrived, breaking down in tears at the scene.

“Meron na ring humabol… na naka-motor doon sa sasakyan na nakaaksidente at tinawag ito at pinabalik na may nasagasaan siyang bata,” Barangay Bambang Security Police Joey Bautista said.

(Someone on a motorcycle chased after the vehicle involved in the accident, called out to the driver, and told him to go back because he had run over a child.)

“Kaya bumalik naman don ‘yung driver at agad naman na isinakay sa sasakyan niya mismo at dinala sa ospital ‘yung bata,” he added.

(So the driver returned, immediately put the child into his own vehicle, and rushed the child to a hospital.)

According to the mother, her daughter died at the hospital.

The victim’s mother said her child had just finished eating prior to the incident. The child asked her permission to buy food, and while she allowed it, she reminded the child not to go far.

“Biglang sabi niya na nagugutom pa siya. Sabi niya bibili siya ng biscuit. Sabi ko sige, diyan lang, huwag kang lalayo. Tapos ayon minuto lang ganun na yung nangyari. Sobra sobrang sakit,” the victim’s mother said.

(Suddenly, my daughter said she’s still hungry and wanted to buy a biscuit. I said okay, just buy nearby and don't go far. Then, just minutes later, that happened. The pain is unbearable.)

Barangay officials suggested that the driver may have had difficulty seeing the child because the front of the vehicle was elevated while driving over a speed bump.

“Sakto ‘yung sasakyan na pa-humps… kaya nung [dumaan ng humps] ‘yung sasakyan, umakyat ‘yung unahan niya biglang tumakbo ‘yung bata at hindi niya napansin nung driver… sa liit nung bata hindi kita kaya nasagasaan,” Bautista said.

(The vehicle was right at the speed bump... so as it went over, the front raised up just as the child suddenly ran across. The driver didn't notice... because the girl was so small, she could not be seen, so the accident happened.)

GMA News is still trying to get a statement from the driver.

The victim's mother recalled her conversation with the driver, who she said initially denied running over her child.

“Sabi niya kung siya daw ‘yung nakabangga, may gasgas daw ‘yung kotse niya. Parang nung nakita niya po siguro yung CCTV, hindi na rin po siya nakapag-deny kasi sasakyan na po talaga niya iyun, Nakumpirma na siya po talaga,” she said.

(He said that if he were the one who hit my child, there would be scratches on his car. But when he saw the CCTV, he could no longer deny it because it was clearly his vehicle. It was confirmed that it was really him.)

Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Markus Lacanilao said they will request a report from authorities regarding the incident to initiate an investigation.

“Kailangan ‘yung mga naaksidentehan mo, nasagasaan mo, gumawa ka ng paraan para matulungan,” Lacanilao said.

(If you get involved in an accident or hit someone, you must make every effort to help.)

“Kukuha kami ng report muna sa Philippine National Police, especially dun sa area kung saan nangyari ‘yun para magawan namin ng Show Cause Order at mai-hearing namin ‘yung driver at maimbestigahan lalo,” he added.

(We will first secure a report from the Philippine National Police, particularly from the area where it occurred, so we can issue a Show Cause Order, summon the driver to a hearing, and conduct a thorough investigation.)

The Pasig City Police have secured the SUV's plate number, and authorities will continue to investigate the incident. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/RF, GMA News