By CESAR JOLITO III

A father and his 15-year-old son were injured after they were struck by a pickup truck while fixing a tricycle tire along the roadside at Barangay Marina in Negros Occidental’s Binalbagan town early morning yesterday, May 7.

Binalbagan police said the incident happened at 2:45 a.m. involving a silver pickup with a detachable canopy driven by a 35-year-old man from Kabankalan City’s Barangay Talubangi.

Police identified the victims only through alias 55-year-old “Maykel,” and his son, both residents of Sitio Lezares in Himamaylan City’s Barangay Mambagaton.

Initial police investigation showed that the pickup truck was traveling from Binalbagan toward Hinigaran when it approached the area where the victims were repairing the tire of their tricycle at the roadside.

Investigators said the driver reportedly signaled an unidentified oncoming vehicle to switch to low-beam headlights.

The two pedestrians allegedly became startled and suddenly stood up, causing the driver to panic and accidentally hit them.

Both victims sustained physical injuries due to the collision.

The minor was transported to the Governor Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital in Himamaylan, while the father was taken to the Binalbagan infirmary for treatment.

The driver voluntarily surrendered to police following the incident.

Police said the vehicle is currently under the custody of the station pending proper disposition and further investigation./CJ, WDJ