Girl texting while crossing street hit, injured by jeepney

A 19-YEAR-OLD girl was rescued by Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation Monday night after she was hit by a public utility jeepeney (PUJ) while texting in her cellular phone and crossing Escario Street in Cebu City.

Bernadette Entece was rushed to  Cebu City Medical Center for injuries in the head. Attending phycisians said she was already out of danger.

Witnesses told police that the victim was texting while crossing the street when a Labangon-bound 12L jeepeny from the Ayala mall hit her.

“Nakit-an na namo siya hinay ni labang nag-text-text, pag-abot sa tunga nihunong siya unya cge gihapon ug text. Pagka-taod taod nilagubo na siya kay nabanggaan naman sa PUJ (We saw her crossing the street slowly while texting. In the middle fo the street, she stopped and continued texting. Then we heard a thud and saw her hit by a PUJ),” said Kelly Diaz who was just across the street when the incident happened.

The driver, Claudio Nadera, said he was driving at normal speed but was unable to spot the victim, who was on her way to a friend in barangay Kamputhaw.

He said the glaring headlights of the incoming vehicle made it impossible for him to see the girl until it was too late to apply for the brakes.

SPO3 Ramon Budiongan of City Traffic Operations Management said the driver was charged with reckless imprudence resulting to  physical injuries./correspondent carine asutilla