Police: Bus driver now under hospital arrest

CEBU, Philippines — The driver of a passenger bus that collided with an ambulance at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City last Sunday is now under hospital arrest as he is now facing charges, said Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Traffic Group Head, Police Lt. Colonel Clark Arriola.

“Ang driver sa Ceres bus is arrested nato to siya although naka hospital arrest siya, gibantayan siya karon sa atong kapolisan sa Mabolo Police Station,” Arriola told reporters yesterday.

Aside from the bus driver, identified as Benedict Caldozo, the ambulance driver is also undergoing treatment in the hospital as of this writing.

The bus collided with the ambulance, which was carrying six passengers, including a patient, Sunday afternoon. At least nine passengers of the bus were rushed to hospital after sustaining injuries.

“Ang nagrabehan jud ato kay ang doctor kay ang kuyog man gud anang ambulance is team gyud na sila, naay doctor,” said Arriola.

Arriola further said that upon investigation, the bus driver was arrested based on the law that provides that if a police vehicle or firetruck or an ambulance passes through with ‘audible sound,’ any vehicle should give way.

“Gani man nagpatawag naman ug schedule ang LTFRB that is scheduled on the first week of November, nitawag ta didto and we would to seat in, aron usab makapaminaw ta unsay himoong dialogue didto and also if ever, we can give our comments,” said Arriola.

He explained that pending the results of the investigation, the provisions of the law automatically pointed to the bus driver as at fault during the incident, saying that the investigation will determine the cause of the accident.

The authorities have also gathered several videos circulated online that captured the incident.

Last Tuesday, charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple serious physical injuries were filed against the bus driver.

“Daghan man tang deployments and if makakita mo anang checkpoints, always gyud na nga ga-remind, nga in open highways 40 kilometers per hour, in interior roads 20 (kph)... defensive driver lang gyud ta. It doesn’t necessarily mean nga naa tay right of way, magpatuyang nata,”Arriola appealed to the public.

Arriola had said that since October 1, a total of 21 buses have already been involved in road accidents. — LPM (FREEMAN)