By: Charles Nikko Limon
A 45-year-old man in Mabini, Pangasinan died after he was accidentally run over by a backhoe while sleeping behind the vehicle near a riverside in Barangay De Guzman on the morning of June 17.
According to police, the victim, believed to be intoxicated, lay down and fell asleep at the back of a parked backhoe.
The 28-year-old backhoe operator did not notice him lying there when he began reversing the machine to transfer to another work area.
“He was asleep at the riverside where the backhoe was stationed. The operator moved the machine to load some rocks and accidentally rolled over the victim,” said PMaj. Jade DC Macaraeg, Officer-in-Charge of the Mabini Police Station.
Macaraeg added that the operator did not see the man when he moved the equipment and only realized what had happened after it was too late.
“The backhoe was moving backward, and he didn’t notice the man lying behind. The victim was crushed,” Macaraeg said.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival due to the severe trauma.
The victim’s family decided not to file charges against the operator after a personal discussion.
They also revealed that the operator is a distant relative.
The operator has since promised to assist the family with the funeral expenses.
