Chinese pedestrian killed in Pampanga van-SUV collision

A Chinese national who was walking along Beijing Road at the Fontana Leisure Park in Mabalacat,  Pampanga was killed after a van collided with an SUV, causing the SUV to smash into the foreigner.

According to JP Soriano's Friday report on GMA 7 news program "24 Oras," the fatality was identified as Lin Zhigiang, a guest at a nearby hotel.

Though Zhigiang was rushed to hospital, he unfortunately expired.

Mabalatac Police investigators said that both the van and SUV were moving at a fast clip when they collided at an intersection.

“Dahil mabilis po sila, hindi po sila nag-bigayan po, so ang naging cause is nagkatamaan po sila. Unfortunately yung black Fortuner is, nag turn left pa po dun niya po niya nasalpok yung naglalakad na pedestrian," explained Police Captain Brillante Manlutac, Deputy Chief of the Investigation Division.

The drivers of the black SUV  turned out to be another Chinese national - Jiantan Lin. The van driver was meanwhile identified as Filipino citizen Jomarie Pineda.

A "shocked" Pineda could not remember what exactly had happened.

"Hindi naman po masyado mabilis [ang pagtakbo ko] siguro. Sabi po kasi nila sa CCTV mabilis daw po yung sasakyan na dinrive ko ganun," said Pineda .

Lin, who was also questioned by the police, was not able to give a statement. At present, authorities were also looking into why Lin was in the country, which he could not properly explain.

At present, both Pineda and Lin faced charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property. — Angelica Y. Yang/DVM, GMA News