KANANGA, Leyte — A former municipal councilor of this town was airlifted to a private hospital in Cebu City after being hit by a passenger van while crossing the national highway in Barangay Tugbong on the morning of December 24, police said in a belated report.
The victim, only identified by police as alias “Edit,” 65, a widow and resident of Barangay Poblacion, Kananga, was struck at around 9:20 a.m. in Sitio Cambugdol. She was initially rushed by her relatives to Ormoc Doctors Hospital but was later transferred by helicopter to Cebu due to the severity of her injuries.
The vehicle involved was a white Toyota Hi-Ace public utility van driven by alias “Ervin,” 38, married, a resident of Barangay Capinyahan, San Isidro, Leyte.
A report from the Kananga Municipal Police Station (MPS) said officers responded after a concerned citizen, accompanied by the van driver, personally reported the incident to the police. When authorities arrived at the scene, the victim had already been taken to the hospital.
Based on the police investigation, the van was traveling at high speed along the national road from San Isidro toward Ormoc City when it accidentally sideswiped the former councilor as she was crossing the highway. The impact reportedly hit the left side of the vehicle, throwing the victim several meters from the point of collision.
The driver is now detained at the Kananga MPS as the investigation continues.
(ROBERT DEJON)
