A 19-year-old student surrendered to police hours after a hit-and-run incident claimed the life of a pedestrian early Sunday morning in Barangay Catalunan Grande, Davao City, authorities confirmed.
The crash happened at around 4:45 a.m. along a stretch of road in Catalunan Grande. The case was recorded under Talomo Police Station.
The victim, identified as Jose Noel Gutierrez Jr., 32, single, and a resident of San Rafael Street, Skyline Village 1, was reportedly walking along the outer portion of the northbound lane when he was struck by a pick-up truck.
Due to the impact, Gutierrez was thrown several meters and landed inside the premises of Balamban Liempo Cebu Lechon House. Investigators said he sustained severe injuries that caused his instantaneous death.
A witness in the area told responding officers that the vehicle immediately fled the scene after the collision, heading in an unknown direction.
On Monday morning, police personnel assigned in Barangay Catalunan Grande located the suspected vehicle abandoned in Sitio San Miguel. A traffic investigator responded and found a gray Toyota Hilux. The vehicle bore visible damage on its front right portion, consistent with the reported impact.
While authorities were examining the abandoned vehicle, the alleged driver, identified as alias “Lyros,” 19, voluntarily surrendered at Talomo Police Station accompanied by his parents.
He admitted that the recovered Toyota Hilux was the same vehicle involved in the fatal crash, police said.
The suspect and the vehicle are now under police custody pending the filing of appropriate charges.
Meanwhile, the victim’s remains were transported to Villa Funeral Homes for proper disposition as authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
