4-year-old girl dead, 8 hurt in MPV crash in Antipolo City

A four-year-old girl was killed after she was run over by a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in Antipolo City, Rizal on Sunday afternoon, June 7.

According to EJ Gomez’s report in “Balitanghali” on Tuesday, eight other individuals were also hurt as they were seen bloodied and lying on the ground along Don Vicente Street. Among those who were hurt was the grandmother and mother of the young victim.

CCTV footage showed that the MPV rapidly approached the sidewalk which caused the 56-year-old grandmother to be thrown off and ran over by the vehicle. Her granddaughter also shared the same fate.

Several other pedestrians were also hit by the MPV that continued to move before it collided with an electric post.

“Una niyang nabangga ‘yung rider po ng motorsiklo, tapos sumunod yung malapit sa gate ng church, lima yung mga inabot niya na nabangga niya,” said Barangay Cupang BPSO Team Leader Marissa Lonsame.

(First, the driver hit a motorcycle rider, and then next were those near the church gate—she ended up hitting five people there.)

The girl’s grandmother said they were buying school supplies for her granddaughter, who is supposed to be an incoming kindergarten student.

“Ginapang ko siya para kunin kasi dumudugo nga, wala siyang hininga,” said the grandmother.

(I crawled towards her to pick her up because she was bleeding; she wasn't breathing anymore.)

The parents of the victim are mourning their daughter’s untimely passing.

“Siya lang yung nag iisa kong anak. Sa kanya ako kumukha ng lakas para sa araw-araw naming buhay. Sobrang hirap ng buhay namin. Hindi namin kaya,” said the victim’s mother.

(She was my only child. She was where I drew strength for our daily life. Our life is so difficult. We can't bear this.)

“Sobrang sakit po talaga. Excited siyang pumasok sa school. Binilhan ko rin siya ng bag, bale ayun na rin regalo ko sa kanya. Magbi-birthday na siya sa 23,” said the girl’s father.

(It hurts so much. She was so excited to go to school. I even bought her a bag, which was supposed to be my gift to her. She would have turned a year older on the 23rd.)

The 39-year-old female suspect surrendered to the authorities, claiming that she lost control of the vehicle’s brakes.

She will face charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple injuries, and damage to property.

“Hindi ko alam ang gagawin, nawalan ako ng preno. Talagang hindi na po talaga tumapak kahit i-hand brake. Pasensya na po talaga, hindi ko po talaga sinasadya,” the suspect said, who is now under the custody of the Antipolo City Police.

(I didn't know what to do, I lost my brakes. They really wouldn't work at all, even when I used the handbrake. I am so sorry, I really didn't mean for this to happen.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA News