By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A father and son were killed yesterday morning after the pedicab they were in was hit by a speeding car in what police believe to be a ‘hit-and-run’ along Buri Road in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City.
Police identified the fatality as 44-year-old Dante Lascoña and his son, six-year-old Randel.
Police Station 3 (PS3) traffic investigator, Police Officer 2 (PO2) Richard Demaala, said, based on witness accounts, the car, with temporary plate number 060110-151688, was heading east and was overtaking another vehicle when it struck the pedicab. However, instead of stopping to assist the victims, the driver of the involved car, a certain Catherine Rhea Mationg, sped away.
Both victims were killed on the spot after sustaining fatal body and head injuries.
The father and son were reportedly roaming the barangay selling bananas when the incident occurred.
Demaala said, after the incident, he immediately contacted the Land Transportation Office to track down Mationg and traced her residence to the Country Homes Subdivision in Barangay Estefania.
Police immediately proceeded to the area and found the vehicle, whose front portion was completely destroyed.
However, when cops questioned the suspect’s family, they claimed the vehicle was left there and Mationg herself fled.
Police also discovered Mationg was reportedly suffering from depression.
Law enforcement, along with the suspect’s family, tried contacting Mationg and urging her to surrender, but the suspect did not respond to the calls.
PS3 are currently conducting a manhunt operation against Mationg, who could face charges of vehicular manslaughter./DGB, WDJ
