Boy killed after being mowed over by PNR train in Vito Cruz

A grade 10 student was killed after being mowed over by a Philippine National Railways train on Friday afternoon.

The fatality was identified as Joseph Punar, a student of San Antonio National High School.

The tragic accident happened around 5:06 p.m. at the railroad crossing in Vito Cruz, Manila, according to PNR Operations Chief Joseline Geronimo in a DZMM interview.

“He died on the spot,” she said.

According to witnesses, the boy knew there was an approaching train but he was looking at the southbound tracks. He jumped onto the northbound tracks for a walk and did not notice the northbound train speeding toward him.

“Nakita niya ho ‘yong tren. Siguro dahil nakababa na ang barera, akala niya ‘yon lang tren na southbound ang pagdating,” the PNR official said. “Eh hindi niya alam na may northbound na tren.”

The boy, who was wearing headphones, apparently did not hear people’s cries for him to get out of the tracks, Geronimo added.