BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO – A mother lost her life while her teenage daughter sustained injuries after being hit by a modernized jeepney while crossing the highway in Barangay Poblacion South, Oton at approximately 6:25 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14.
The victims were identified as Lea Santillan, 42, and “Jade,” both residents of the said barangay.
Police Corporal Churchill Acosta Jr., an investigator from the Oton Municipal Police Station (MPS), said the two were crossing the highway to buy viand when the driver of the modernized jeepney allegedly failed to notice them due to glare from vehicle headlights.
“Ang biktima naton duha ini sila nga mag-iloy, nabungguan sang modernized jeepney. Bale halin sila sa pihak matabok kuntani agud magbakal sud-an, pag-abot nila sa tunga-tunga didto na kag nabungguan sila,” Acosta told Panay News.
The victims were rushed to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City, where the mother succumbed to a severe brain injury.
“Jade,” on the other hand, is now in stable condition.
“Natinguhaan naton nga maistorya ang attending physician sa hospital. Didto natun nahibaluan nga wala gid naka-survive ang nanay, napatay gid. According sa doctor, brain injury ang gintunaan sang kamatayon sang biktima. Ang bata stable naman pero under observation dyapun,” Acosta added.
The driver of the modernized jeepney, identified as Joey Poblador, 53, from Barangay Sta. Rita, San Joaquin, Iloilo, is currently under the custody of the Oton MPS.
The jeepney was from Miagao en route to Mohon Terminal in Iloilo City at the time of the incident.
Meanwhile, the Oton MPS is awaiting a decision from the victims’ family regarding the filing of charges.
Poblador may face charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and reckless imprudence resulting in physical injury./PN
