Another Innova patrol car figures in accident

Another Innova patrol car of the Cebu City Police Office has figured in an accident, this time at the corner of Escario and Apitong streets in barangay Capitol Site last Saturday dawn. It is the fifth Innova patrol car involved in an accident since last December with the most recent case last Friday.

The patrol car, with plate number SHN-889, was detailed with the Mobile Patrol Group and driven by PO1 Carlo Balosoto on its way to respond to a trouble alarm when it was hit by a taxi with plate number GXB-573 was driven by Mario Carbantes, 38, of Dumanjug town.

Traffic Group investigator PO2 Anthony Deligero said that the patrol car had its siren and blinkers on while heading to Archbishop Reyes Avenue when the taxi crashed into the patrol car's right passenger door. Both vehicles sustained damage.

Last Friday afternoon, an Innova patrol car was hit by the multi-cab of the City Traffic Office Management when the two vehicles were making a U-turn at the highway of the South Reclamation Properties.

A week before that, two policemen were injured when their Innova patrol car was hit by a prime mover also at the SRP road at the corner of the Mambaling access road.

Last February 7 this year, two youths on a motorcycle were hit by an Innova patrol car driven by Insp. Rex Campus of the MPG who was at the time responding also to an alarm.

The first Innova accident happened last December at the height of preparations for the ASEAN Summit when a rookie policeman drove the car out of the motel in General Maxilom Avenue after allegedly dropping off his superior, PO2 Junicar Estiñoso, and his alleged girlfriend at the place.

This first case is now being investigated while the senior policeman was already reassigned outside the city.

A police top official meanwhile said that the public can also help prevent road accidents and should not rely only on the police at all times.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director, Sr. Supt. Carmelo Valmoria, said based on the previous police reports, the common causes of road accidents were overspeeding and driving under the influence of liquor. He added that the usual scene of accidents is the highway where drivers are likely to drive at high speed due to clear road stretches.

Valmoria said that accidents can be prevented if drivers strictly observe traffic rules and regulations.

He made these comments after receiving reports of successive vehicular accidents the past weeks -not only in the city but also in the province- that caused deaths and injuries to a number of passengers. - Edwin Ian Melecio and Norvie S. Misa/RAE