LTO summons pick-up truck driver who ran over and killed girl in Ilocos Sur

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has summoned the driver of the pick-up truck who allegedly hit and ran over a seven-year-old girl in Suyo, Ilocos Sur earlier this month to account for possible charges such as reckless driving and other offenses.

In a statement, the LTO said it has issued a show cause order (SCO) against the pick-up truck driver, compelling the driver to appear before the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) on January 23 at 2 p.m.

The driver was directed to submit a sworn statement and explain why he or she should not be held accountable for reckless driving and being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle in relation to the incident that killed the young girl.

“Ang buhay ng bawat mamamayan ay hindi maibabalik-lalo na ang buhay ng isang bata na dapat pang makamit ang kanyang mga pangarap. Hinihikayat ko ang lahat ng mga driver na laging maging maingat at responsable sa kalsada. Sumunod sa mga batas trapiko para sa ligtas na kalsada para sa lahat,” said LTO chief and Transportation Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao.

(The life of each citizen cannot be restored, especially that of a child who has yet to reach for her dreams. I urge all drivers to be careful and responsible motorists on the road. Follow traffic rules so that our streets are safe for everyone.)

The pick-up truck allegedly hit the young girl who suddenly crossed the Daang Suyo-Cervantes Road in Barangay Uso, Suyo in Ilocos Sur. The girl had just alighted from a tricycle along with her mother prior to the accident.

The child was immediately brought to the Ilocos Sur District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

The pick-up truck was placed under an LTO alarm while the driver’s license of the concerned motorist was preventively suspended for 90 days.

The pick-up truck driver should also surrender his or her driver’s license to the LTO during the investigation of the incident.

The LTO warned that failure to appear during the hearing or submit a sworn affidavit will mean that the respondent is waiving his or her right to be heard and that the agency will resolve the case based on the evidence at hand. — JMA, GMA Integrated News