Driver in smashup to face charges

CEBU, Philippines — Police are determined to file a complaint against the driver of the tractor that triggered an11-vehicle smashup near the Marcelo Fernan Bridge shortly before noon Monday.

Police Officer 2 Maximo Moneva of the Mandaue City Police Office-Traffic Management Unit said reckless imprudence resulting in multiple damage and physical injuries will be filed against 46-year-old Juan Leonis Escudero.

He said they are now waiting for complainants to show up and support in the filing of the case, considering that three children were reportedly traumatized because of the incident.

"Katong ginikanan kun motunga to siya, ma-filan gyud ni siya (Escudero) kay sila man tong direct complainant ug katong mga tag-iya sa sakyanan (that were involved in the incident)," the police officer said.

According to Moneva, the children were already discharged from the hospital after their vital signs were found stable.

In an interview earlier, Escudero claimed his vehicle lost its brakes. The tractor was transporting seaweeds from Lapu-Lapu City to Cebu City when it figured in an accident.

But Moneva said initial investigation showed otherwise.

"Nagkataon lang to nga padayon siya’g overtake nya sa right-most lane siya niagi. Na-rattle siya going to the inner lane. Pagkabantay niya nihunong na, ni-brake siya but wala ni kagat mao nilahos siya," Moneva said.

"Kato iyahang giingon nga nawad-an siyag brake, iyaha tong alegasyon kay ang sakyanan gud nadala ra gihapon sa amoa gud. Na drivan gihapon sa iyahang pahinante," he added.

The accident involved a tank truck, a delivery truck, three taxi cabs, and five private vehicles, disrupting traffic for about three hours.

QRT Eyed

On the other hand, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Central Visayas is planning to form a quick response team (QRT) to immediately respond to road accidents.

The team will be stationed near the bridge. The specific location, however, is yet to be determined.

“Need sad ang QRT sa bridge in case malangay pag-abot ang mga responders kay maapil katanggong sa traffic,” said Jonathan Tumulak, Capitol's traffic management focal person.

According to Tumulak, the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu asked DPWH to give them access to the bridges’ surveillance footages during yesterday’s coordination meeting.

At present, only DPWH-7 personnel can monitor traffic on the two bridges—Marcelo Fernan Bridge and Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

DPWH’s monitoring center is located under one of the bridges.

The bridges are being managed by DPWH-7 under the supervision of the Bridge Board, which is composed of officials from the provincial government and the regional agencies.

Tumulak said DPWH-7 first learned about the incident but failed to relay the information to the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) due to “lack of communication.”

“Wala sila’y communication sa Mandaue traffic. Nag-expect lang sad sila (DPWH personnel) nga nahibalo na ang TEAM,” Tumulak narrated.

It was the TEAM that first responded to the bridge accident after one of its traffic enforcers nearby noticed the collision.

No Overtaking

Moreover, DPWH is set to install safety and warning signages along the two bridges within the week and to implement a no overtaking policy.

Heavy trucks are advised to use only the outer lanes.

Erring drivers will be penalized accordingly.

Tumulak said no resolutions are needed for the implementation of these new traffic rules. - Lorraine Mitzi A. Ambrad/KBQ (FREEMAN)