A woman was killed while four others were injured in a hit-and-run incident involving a tricycle and a pickup truck in General Santos City.
The incident was caught on CCTV.
According to the Traffic Enforcement Unit of the General Santos City Police Office (TEU-GSCPO), the victims who are all relatives were supposed to travel to Surallah, South Cotabato.
They were riding a tricycle when they were hit by the pickup truck on the national highway in Barangay Labangal.
One of the passengers died on the spot while the others were brought to the hospital.
“Pagdating doon sa may gilid ng highway daw nagstop muna sila doon so pagmagstart na sila, paalis sila it so happen na may approaching yung pick -up, yun nabangga sila,” TEU GSCPO Chief, Major Oliver Pauya, said.
The driver of the pickup truck fled after the incident.
“Sad to say na drag na pa niya, instead na magstop siya dahil nakabangga siya agad namang sumibat. Na drag yung sidewheel kaya separated yung side wheel at sa saka yung motorcycle,” Pauya added.
The 31-year-old driver of the pickup truck surrendered after authorities have located his address in Polomolok, South Cotabato.
Authorities believed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol at that time.
“Presume nga naming nakainum eh although hindi niya inamin,” Pauya said.
Police said the pickup truck driver vowed to shoulder all expenses of the victims. The family of the victims will no longer sue the driver.
“So dito tinawag naman natin ang pamilya, pinaharap sila, yung pamilya kasi grabe yung convince namin sa kanila na magfile ng kaso pero ayaw talaga, wala kaming magawa nagharap sila dito na bayaran. Nagpropose naman sila na magbabayad sila,” Pauya said.
However, police said the driver may still face charges for abandoning the victims.
“Yung move naman namin na magpa-file kami ng revocation of license kasama yung incident report namin kasi pangit kasi nakabangga ka dapat tulungan mo yung nabanggaan mo wag mong hayaan doon na helpless sa gilid ng kalsada,” Pauya added.
The driver has yet to issue a statement.
