Cops looking for van driver in Christmas eve hit-and-run

Edward Villaflores and his live-in partner promised to spend the New Year together but he was killed by a speeding van in Pasay City on Christmas Eve.

Villaflores, a 32-year-old vendor peddling cigarettes and candies was crossing Roxas Boulevard toward HK Sun Plaza at 11:45 p.m. on Sunday when he was struck by a white Toyota Hi-Ace van with plate number AAU 9759.

Instead of stopping, however, the van sped off.

The report of case investigator SPO1 Mark Jun Anaviso said the driver of another vehicle chased the van and cornered it at a gas station at the corner of Gil Puyat Avenue.

When the Good Samaritan confronted the van driver, the latter said he did not want to return to the scene of the accident because he was afraid he would be mauled by people.

Instead, the suspect promised to turn himself in at the nearest police station.

Villaflores was taken to a hospital where he died at 12:30 a.m. on Christmas Day. The suspect has yet to surrender to authorities just as he promised, Anaviso said.

Helena dela Cruz, the victim’s live-in partner, said that admittedly, he had just come from a drinking spree in Libertad. They were supposed to celebrate the New Year together in Laguna province, she added.

Erwin Villaflores, the victim’s brother, called on the van driver to give himself up: “He should own up to what he did. He killed my brother.”

Police are still looking for the Hi-Ace van and its driver who will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.