A 10-year-old boy was treated for minor injuries at the Cebu City Medical Center after he got sideswiped by a government-owned Toyota Innova Wagon assigned to Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama last Sunday morning.

The boy was identified by a traffic investigator as Rico Balili of Barangay Kinawalian, San Remigio, Cebu. He suffered scratches in his body in the incident that happened
along Escario St. near Capitol Parish Church past 10 a.m. Sunday.

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Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama said he is grateful that the boy was not seriously injured.

He said the boy only suffered a bruise in the head, and was immediately sent home after being given anti-tetanus shots at the CCMC.

Rama said he also bought all the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor at the city hospital.

“He was the one who ran into our vehicle. From out of nowhere, he crossed the street. But praise the Lord, the boy is fine now,” he said yesterday.

He said that had his driver suddenly stepped on the break, the boy could have been hit by his white Toyota Innova or other passing vehicles.

Loud bang

The vice mayor was seated in front and said he was jolted when he heard a loud banging at the back of the car.

“We already spotted him but we didn’t expect him to cross the street,” said Rama.

SPO3 Nelson Jayme of the Cebu City Traffic Section said Balili was on Escario St. as his parents sell root crops and bananas at the roadside near the foot of an overpass in the area.

Jayme, who investigated the incident, told Sun.Star Cebu that Rama’s car was at a minimum speed heading toward Ayala Business Park when the vice mayor, who was on board the vehicle, and his driver Andres Arche, 56, noticed that something hit the car’s right side rear door.

The driver stopped. Rama and Arche then found that Balili was hit.

“The boy reportedly crossed the street unexpectedly,” Jayme said.

Rama and Arche rushed the boy to the hospital.

Boy OK

Jayme said Balili’s attending physician did not recommend for the boy’s confinement as his injuries were minor. Balili left the hospital shortly after.

In a report over GMA 7 Balitang Bisdak, Balili’s grandmother Veneranda Sumalago, who went to the hospital, said she was thankful that her grandson was not seriously injured.

Balili’s family is reportedly not interested in filing any complaint against Rama’s driver.