The daughter of former professional basketball player Nelson Asaytono is facing multiple criminal charges after ramming her car into bystanders and shops in Manila, killing one and injuring 12 others.
The Manila Police District said that Kim Arielle Asaytono, a 22-year-old student and a resident of Pasig City, was charged on Wednesday with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, driving with an expired license, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
This, after she figured in an accident on Tuesday night, which led to the death of bystander Oscar Lastimado, and which also injured 12 other bystanders.
SPO3 Rey Fernandez of the MPD’s Traffic Enforcement Unit said Asaytono was driving a red Toyota Innova (ZCX 638) eastbound along Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night when the car swerved and hit two tricycles near Altura Street.
The car also plowed through a horse racing off-track betting station and a barber shop, among others, hitting a number of people along the way.
Fernandez said that Asaytono, who was on the wheel of the car during the accident, was having a heated argument with her female companion when she lost control of the car, sending it swerving and crashing on to vehicles, people and shops.
Lastimado was pronounced dead on arrival at the University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, together with the other injured victims.
Police identified the injured victims as Alberto Tizon, Fidel Estante, Darwin Vidal, Millano Barnacha, Arnold Dioquito, Armand Erum, Lancelot Verian, Gurie Magtaza, Timothy John Dungo, Wilfredo Avila, Marco Sangil, and Salvador Verceles. Four of the injured were in critical condition, Fernandez said, but it was not clear who among the victims were critical.
Fernandez said that Asaytono presented an expired driver’s license to the police after the accident. Initial medical tests indicated she had alcohol in her system while driving, he added.
Asaytono underwent inquest proceedings at the Manila Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday afternoon. Aside from the three charges, police filed 12 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries, but Asaytono and the victims settled and agreed to drop the charges.
Asaytono is now in the custody of the Women and Children’s Protection Desk at the Manila Police District, according to Fernandez.
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