By Daniel Que
MAPANDAN, Pangasinan – A 75-year-old Japanese national died after he was struck by an Isuzu truck early this morning of December 27 in Barangay Golden in this town.
The accident occurred around 2:50 a.m. when 50-year-old Florante Petrola, a truck driver from Barangay Nilombot, Mapandan, was driving his Isuzu truck southbound along the barangay road. Petrola, who was accompanied by his live-in partner, reported that he did not see the pedestrian in time to avoid the collision.
Initial investigations revealed that the pedestrian, identified as Hyakuju Moteki, a Japanese national residing in Barangay Apaya, Mapandan, was sitting in the middle of the road.
Moteki appeared to be intoxicated at the time of the incident. As Petrola’s truck approached, he accidentally bumped the elderly man, causing him to fall under the vehicle.
Moteki sustained severe injuries to various parts of his body.
He was immediately rushed to Mapandan Community Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Due to the critical nature of his injuries, he was transferred to the Region 1 Medical Center but he was declared dead on arrival by attending doctors.
Petrola was taken into custody by local authorities. His vehicle was also impounded at the Mapandan Police Station while the investigation continues.