Driver flees after pickup drags 12-year old boy inside parking lot in QC

A 12-year old boy was injured on Saturday after a pickup truck dragged him several meters inside a church parking lot in Quezon City.

In EJ Gomez’ report on “24 Oras Weekend”, CCTV footage showed the victim playing in the rain with other children at 2:30 p.m. Saturday inside a vacant church parking lot in Barangay E. Rodriguez.

While the victim laid down on the ground, a company service pickup truck suddenly entered the parking lot and ran over the victim.

The vehicle continued moving for several meters while pushing the boy with its left front tire.

One child saw what was happening and ran towards the victim to check on him before signalling the driver to stop.

After putting the pickup on reverse, the driver got out and went to the victim who he forcibly stood up and moved to the side. The driver then went back inside his vehicle and quickly left the scene.

The injured boy walked to his house while nursing his left arm.

Yoyoy Santos, the victim’s brother, said he saw the boy shaking and that the left side of his body had begun to discolor.

The victim, a grade 7 student, said he cannot walk or move properly because of his injuries.

“While I was being dragged I could not breathe. It hurts and throbs. When I cough or open my mouth I feel pain in my back. I can’t sleep properly because of my wounds,” the victim said.

Santos said that even though his brother wasn’t run over, his family is angry over the driver’s actions, saying he should not have moved the injured victim and for immediately left without even providing ny assistance.

“He wasn’t interested in helping the person he hit,” Santos said.

The boy’s family rushed him to a hospital and reported the incident to authorities.

Barangay officials said they were able to get the vehicle’s plate number and the company that owned it. They said the driver should have searched for the victim’s house and his parents instead of rushing to leave the scene.

The incident was also reported to the Quezon City Police District’s Traffic Sector 3.

The Land Transportation Office has issued a show cause order for the driver and registered owner of the vehicle.

Markus Lacanilao, LTO chief, said the driver could have his driver’s license revoked and the vehicle in question could no longer be used since an alarm has also been placed on it.

MIESCOR Builders Inc., the company that owns the vehicle, said it is “conducting an internal investigation” regarding the incident. It added it is coordinating with authorities and will cooperate with their probe.

The company also said it has reached out to the victim’s family to provide assistance.

The driver of the pickup surrendered to authorities on Sunday afternoon but declined to give a statement to the media. —RF, GMA News