20-Year-Old College Student Waiting for a Ride on Maharlika Highway in Atimonan, Quezon Killed After Being Struck by a Bus's Open Engine Hood

20-Year-Old College Student Waiting for a Ride on Maharlika Highway in Atimonan, Quezon Killed After Being Struck by a Bus's Open Engine Hood

Atimonan, Quezon — A 20-year-old college student was killed last Thursday at dawn after being struck by an open bus engine hood while waiting for a ride on Maharlika Highway in Barangay Tabakin, Atimonan, Quezon.

According to the Atimonan police investigation, at around 12:15 a.m., as the bus was passing in front of a fast-food restaurant, the right side of its engine hood swung open.

The victim was reportedly waiting by the roadside for a ride to Manila when he was hit by the open hood.

The impact was so strong that the student was thrown several meters and suffered severe injuries to his body.

He was rushed to Doña Marta Hospital but was already declared dead on arrival.

According to Atimonan police chief Major Alan Hernandez, the driver said he did not notice that the engine hood had opened while heading to Manila.

"He was hit. The driver forgot that their estribo (hood) was open. Anyway, he says he didn't see that the estribo was open. But he should have seen it while driving," Hernandez said.

The driver was taken into police custody and charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

This is the second time in Quezon that a person has been killed after being struck by a bus's open hood.

Last month, a man jogging in Ginayangan was also killed after being hit by the open luggage compartment cover of a bus.