Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Driving away and failing to stop after a vehicular accident is referred to as “hit-and-run.”
Last July 12, a violent and fatal hit-and-run incident at the corner of Kamuning Road and Tomas Morato AVenue in Quezon City was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.
The hit-and-run victim was identified as Aniceta Saulan.
Saulan, 66, was knocked to the ground and dragged by a speeding taxi. She died on the spot.
On June 25, a photo of a hit-and-run victim in Taguig City was posted on the Internet.
The photo, which went viral and elicited outrage among netizens, showed a bloodied victim — still in a state of shock — sitting on the pavement.
According to the 2015 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority, hit-and-run incidents are among the top traffic accidents.
The report revealed that from 2010 to 2012, a total of 2,810 hit-and-run incidents were recorded.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) sent the following useful information to CNN Philippines on what victims and witnesses should do after a hit-and-run incident:
1. Seek medical assistance and move to the sidewalk to stay clear of oncoming traffic.
2. Immediately report the incident to the nearest police stations.
3. Write down the identity of all available witnesses, including drivers and pedestrians in the area.
4. If possible, use your mobile phone camera to take photos of the immediate vicinity, including the involved vehicle.
5. Secure all physical evidence from the crime scene that can be used by investigators in determining the identities of those involved.
6. Take note of the following details that will assist investigators in identifying the involved vehicle:
license plate number
type
make
model
color
description of the driver or other occupants of the vehicle
general direction where the vehicle went after the incident
any other distinguishing vehicle accessories or markings
According to the PNP, traffic investigators should file and record the incident, which will serve as basis for the filing of a case in court.
It also said that authorities could immediately request copies of all private and public CCTV cameras, including traffic monitoring cameras in the vicinity and adjacent areas that can serve as evidence in the identification of the parties involved.
