Jeep kills boy; driver charged

MANILA, Philippines–A four-year-old boy who told his mother on Saturday night that he was going out to buy bread died after he was hit by a passenger jeepney in Pasig City.

The police said that Leo Pamilar was killed on the spot after he suffered head injuries. The jeepney driver, Romeo Hontiveros, 58, was arrested and would be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

The accident happened on Baltazar Street corner Market Avenue in Barangay (village) Palatiw, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

According to SPO2 Carlito Guillarte of the Pasig police vehicular traffic investigation unit, the victim, along with his eight-year-old sister Lealyn, had asked permission from their mother Analie to go out so they could buy some bread from a nearby bakery. He added that the 30-year-old mother agreed since she was then busy cleaning their house.

Guillarte said that the children were about to reach the bakery when the victim suddenly let go of his sister’s hand and ran across the road. As he did so, he was hit by the jeepney headed toward the Pasig Mega Market.