By CESAR JOLITO III

A 71-year-old man was seriously injured after being struck by a pickup truck along the national highway at Barangay Damsite in Negros Occidental’s Murcia town on Thursday evening, May 28.

Police identified the victim only as alias “Edgar,” a married laborer and resident of Barangay Cansilayan’s Hacienda Ditsing in the town.

The driver involved was identified as 52-year-old alias Jose, a farmer from Barangay Minoyan in Murcia.

Murcia police said the incident happened around 7:30 p.m. in Purok Paghimakas, Barangay Damsite.

Initial investigation showed that the suspect was driving his vehicle from Murcia town proper toward Bago City when the victim allegedly suddenly crossed the road and was accidentally hit by the vehicle.

The victim sustained serious injuries in different parts of his body.

Responders from the Murcia Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office rushed him to the Murcia Health Center before he was later transferred to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City for further medical treatment.

The driver was placed under the custody of Murcia police following a medical examination at the Murcia Health Center.

The vehicle involved in the accident was also taken into police custody as authorities continue their investigation./CJ, WDJ