Ambulance kills 'habal-habal' driver

CEBU, Philippines - An ambulance is a vehicle used to save lives through transportation of sick or injured people to the hospital. Not this time, however.

In Danao City, a “habal-habal” (motorcycle for hire) driver died after the ambulance hit his vehicle on the national road in Barangay Sabang Thursday afternoon.

Levi Pumar Bingtan of Barangay Tag-ube, Compostela, was driving his Yamaha Crypton motorcycle, bearing plate number 4041-LA, when a speeding ambulance appeared and hit the rear potion of his vehicle.

The ambulance, a Hyundai Porter cab, with plate numbers SJC-354, driven by Derwin Estrera Enriquez Sr., is owned by the City Government of Danao. It was carrying victims to be transported to a hospital in Cebu City.

Enriquez told police investigators that he and Bingtan were traveling in the same lane towards Cebu City when the motorcycle overtook a tricycle and ran slowly in the middle of the road. Enriquez said Bingtan might be thinking that the ambulance will pass on his right side.

The ambulance, on the other hand, signaled it will pass on the other side but when it was about to go back to its lane, its driver failed to notice the motorcycle and in the process hit it.

Because of the impact, Bingtan was thrown away from his motorcycle.

Traffic police said that the ambulance was running fast and was in a hurry as it was carrying patients.

SPO1 Renante Manulat told The FREEMAN that the ambulance signaled to counter flow on the other side of the lane, but when Enriquez saw another vehicle overtook and will be passing his lane, he went back to his lane, but said he failed to notice Bingtan.

Bingtan, who was allegedly not wearing a helmet during the incident, sustained severe head injuries.

Enriquez stopped the ambulance and asked the patients inside to transfer to another vehicle and immediately brought Bingtan to the Danao District Hospital for treatment. Doctors pronounced Bingtan already dead.

Manulat said that after Enriquez brought Bingtan to the hospital, he immediately surrendered to the traffic police.

Enriquez will not be facing any charge after the wife of Bingtan agreed that Enriquez will give financial assistance. The City Government of the Danao will also extend help to the family of the victim.  (FREEMAN)