Tragedy on the highway: 7-year-old girl killed in sudden Ilocos Sur road accident

• A seven-year-old girl was killed on January 16, 2026, after being hit by a pickup truck in Barangay Uso, Suyo, Ilocos Sur
• The victim had just alighted from a tricycle with her mother when she suddenly ran across the highway into the path of the vehicle
• The driver, a 38-year-old from Benguet, cooperated with authorities and assisted the family immediately following the collision
• Police are urging increased vigilance for parents traveling with minors along national roads to prevent similar fatal accidents

A Friday afternoon in Suyo, Ilocos Sur, turned into a heartbreaking scene on January 16, 2026, as a sudden roadside incident claimed the life of a seven-year-old girl.

The child was fatally struck and run over by a pickup truck along the national highway in Barangay Uso, highlighting the ever-present dangers of high-traffic provincial roads.

The tragedy unfolded shortly after 5:00 PM when the young victim and her mother disembarked from a tricycle on the shoulder of the highway.

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According to initial police reports, the mother was occupied with the vehicle and did not realize her daughter had already stepped onto the pavement.

CCTV footage from the area captured the harrowing moment the child suddenly darted toward the other side of the road.

A white pickup truck traveling along the lane was unable to brake in time, hitting the child and subsequently running her over. The impact caused severe injuries that ultimately proved fatal.

The driver of the pickup truck, identified as a 38-year-old resident of Itogon, Benguet, immediately brought the vehicle to a halt.

He assisted the mother as they rushed the unresponsive girl to a nearby hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, the child was declared dead on arrival due to traumatic internal injuries.

Suyo Municipal Police Station took the driver into custody shortly after the incident for proper disposition.

Investigators noted that the driver appeared cooperative and was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

As of Monday, January 19, local authorities confirmed that the grieving family and the driver had entered into a dialogue regarding the incident.

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While the driver was initially facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in h0micide, reports from local news outlets like Bombo Radyo suggest that the parties may reach a settlement given the accidental nature of the dash into traffic.

The Suyo Police have issued a stern reminder to all parents and guardians to maintain a firm hold on children, especially when alighting from vehicles near national highways, to prevent similar "split-second" tragedies from recurring.

In other news, a motorcycle rider was killed instantly on January 19, 2026, after their vehicle was caught underneath a truck navigating the treacherous Zigzag Road in Antipolo. A pillion passenger who was traveling with the victim suffered major physical trauma and is currently receiving emergency medical treatment at a local hospital. Local authorities noted that the crash took place on a notoriously sharp curve, a section of the mountain road known for high-risk maneuvers and blind spots. The owner of the involved truck has formally committed to covering the entirety of the victim's funeral costs and the ongoing medical bills for the injured survivor.

Still in other news, Janel Balac Palacio, a criminology student from Tabuk City, died early Sunday morning, January 18, after a motorcycle accident in Bontoc, Mountain Province. The victim's brother, Jeryx Kian, who was operating the motorcycle, survived the ordeal with various injuries after the vehicle veered off the road at approximately 2:30 a.m. Police reports from Barangay Alab Oriente indicate that the motorcycle failed to negotiate a curve, overshooting the pavement and tumbling into a deep roadside ravine. Rescuers discovered the student trapped among bamboo thickets roughly five meters down the slope; he was later pronounced dead on arrival at the Bontoc General Hospital.

Source: KAMI.com.gh