The jeepney driver who ran over a group of students crossing a pedestrian lane in Makati City tested positive for illegal drugs and did not have a license.
The suspect, Crizalde Tamparong, killed a 14-year-old boy and injured six others.
Makati police chief Col. Rogelio Simon said while his initial drug test results came positive, it will still be submitted to confirmatory testing.
Tamparong is now facing a case related to drug use, aside from traffic law violations.
According to Jamie Santos on GMA News “Saksi,” the traffic light for vehicles was red (stop), and a group of students was crossing over the street.
Suddenly, a raging jeepney driven by Samparong appeared and plowed through the victims who were about to cross the road.
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Jeepney driver who ran over students tested positive for drugs, has no license
In a video, the jeepney avoided a car and hit the victims at the pedestrian lane.
Because of the collision’s impact, some of the students were thrown while some went under the jeepney.
People who saw the tragedy immediately helped and rushed the victims to Ospital ng Makati and Makati Medical Center for treatment.
According to the Makati Traffic Bureau, the jeepney driver argued that he had lost control of the vehicle.
However, Makati police chief noted that, based on the CCTV footage, the jeep stopped right in front of Poblacion’s covered court after hitting the students.
“[If it had no brakes, it] would have crashed [against] the wall of the park beside Pasig River,” Simon added.
Meanwhile, Makati Mayor Abby Binay assured the victims’ family that justice would be served. She also ordered to find the jeepney’s operator and recommend to the LTFRB its franchise’s immediate suspension.