3-car collision causes heavy traffic on first Mactan bridge

CEBU, Philippines — Several motorists were caught in the middle of a heavy traffic flow after three cars collided on the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge at around 5 a.m. yesterday.

Police Officer 2 Jomar Florentino, investigator of the Traffic Enforcement Unit of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), said one of the vehicles counter-flowed and disrupted the flow of traffic.

Following the incident, Chief Inspector Jimmy Fortes, chief of LCPO-TEU, said they immediately diverted the motorists to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

The heavy traffic lasted for almost five hours.

Based on the initial investigation, Arnold Lim Siao, 37, a resident of Greenhills Subdivision, Barangay Cabancalan, Mandaue City who was driving a Toyota Vios, crossed the bridge from Lapu-Lapu City and allegedly counter-flowed, hitting a Mazda pick-up which eventually rammed a Honda Sedan.

The driver of the pick-up, Deolito Lequigan Pinote, 47, of Cordova, Cebu, was on the other lane going to Lapu-Lapu City while the Honda Sedan, driven by Danilo Olmoguez, 59, of Camella Homes, Barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City, was behind Pinote.

Florentino said no one was hurt but the vehicles were damaged.

The vehicles involved were towed at around 9 a.m. and were brought to the impounding area of LCPO.

Florentino said they are conducting a follow-up investigation into the incident.

Siao is under police custody, will face a complaint of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple damage to property.  — MBG (FREEMAN)