2-year-old boy escapes death after getting hit by closed van in North Caloocan

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

A two-year-old boy narrowly escaped death after getting hit by a closed van while crossing a street in North Caloocan City.

In a “24 Oras” report by Gabriel Gonzales on Monday, the accident occurred on September 25 as CCTV footage showed the closed van headed towards Amparo along Sanana Road in Barangay 180, when the unsupervised toddler suddenly crossed the street.

The child was immediately pulled out from underneath the van and rushed to the hospital. He survived the incident but sustained bruises on his arms and wounds on his chest.

“‘Yung bata po ay nabuhay po. Kasalukuyan pong andon pa rin siya sa ospital ngayon,” BPSO Team Leader Gerry Cañeza said.

(The child survived and is currently still recovering in the hospital.)

“Kasi po 'yung bata, naglalaro sa kalsada, patawid-tawid po ‘yata,” he added, recalling the circumstances of the incident.

(The child was playing on the street and seemed to be crossing back and forth.)

The victim’s grandmother, Roseta Orquijo, admitted she wasn't able to keep an eye on her grandson that day.

She explained that the parents had left the boy in her care while they attended a prenatal checkup for the pregnant mother.

“Hindi rin ko napansin na ‘yon kasi pagod din ako, naglaba din ako. Iniwanan ko nga ‘yung labada ko doon,” Orquijo said.

(I didn't notice him leaving because I was tired from doing the laundry. I even left my laundry unfinished there.)

“... Kasi andito ‘yung apo kong lalaki ‘yung nagbabantay.’Yung isa naman parang tulala din ‘yon ‘yung ano niya ‘yung tito niya,” she added.

(... I thought my other grandson was watching him, but the uncle was seemingly out of it as well.)

The victim’s grandmother said they were overjoyed that he survived, adding that he must have been saved by a “guardian angel”.

The North Caloocan Traffic Sector said the boy’s family and the van driver reached a settlement, leading to the driver's release.

The van driver’s company reportedly committed to covering all of the child's medical expenses.

Authorities reminded motorists to drive cautiously and urged parents to remain vigilant in watching over their children.

“Sa mga motorista, [maging] maingat din sila kasi buhay ‘yung nasasagasaan. And then ang magulang, responsable sila sa kanilang anak, lagi nilang gagabayan,” Cañeza said.

(To motorists, please be careful because lives are at stake. And to parents, be responsible for your children and guide them at all times.) —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/RF, GMA News