Police patrol car runs red light in Koronadal, hits motorcycle; 8-year-old girl dies

Police patrol car runs red light in Koronadal, hits motorcycle; 8-year-old girl dies

📌 At around 6:40 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10, a speeding police patrol car ran a red light at an intersection in downtown Koronadal City, South Cotabato, and hit a motorcycle, killing an 8-year-old girl and injuring the 51-year-old grandmother who was riding it. The police officer who was driving the patrol car has been taken into police custody.

■ What happened
· The crash happened at the intersection of General Santos Drive and Sinsuat Street in Barangay Zone 4.
· The grandmother said the light was green on her side and the patrol car approached at high speed and hit them (PhilNews). The child was thrown several meters and suffered severe head injuries, and died while being treated at the hospital.
· The patrol car was a pickup truck driven by a 30-year-old corporal assigned to the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Sultan Kudarat Police. Most reports give the child's age as 8, but the Journal News article states 12 at the top of its story.

■ Investigation and current status
· Alan Manibog, director of Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12), promised a fair investigation and ordered that charges be filed against the driving officer and the commanding officer depending on the results.
· According to PhilNews, the patrol car was impounded by the Koronadal City Police traffic unit, and the driver is to undergo drug and alcohol tests.

■ Notice for residents and travelers
· Even when the light is green, look left and right once more before entering an intersection. If you witness an accident, call 911.

■ Sources
Inquirer (11/11), PhilNews (11/11), Journal News (11/11)

■ Photo
· Police patrol car with a damaged front end — Inquirer