E-bike overturns, 6 passengers hurt

CEBU, Philippines — Six individuals were injured after the overloaded electric bike they were riding overturned while being flagged down by personnel from the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) along Katipunan Street in Barangay Calamba before dawn on Tuesday, July 14.

The victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. The e-bike driver, identified as “Berto,” 40, sustained a head injury and suffered the most serious injuries.

The other injured passengers were identified only as Jeo, 20; Ken, 16; Katie, 17; Lloyd, 20; and Dexter, 17. They sustained minor injuries.

Jeo told authorities that they had just come from the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), where they bought medicine, and were on their way home to Barangay Punta Princesa when the incident occurred.

Katie, one of the passengers, alleged that a CCTO vehicle struck their e-bike, causing it to overturn.

The allegation, however, was denied by the driver of the CCTO vehicle, who identified himself only as “John.” According to him, CCTO personnel were conducting a traffic enforcement operation after noticing that the e-bike was carrying more passengers than allowed and had entered a restricted area.

John said the team repeatedly signaled the e-bike to stop, but its passengers allegedly ignored the warnings.

He added that the CCTO vehicle moved ahead in an attempt to get the e-bike to pull over safely.

Instead, the e-bike reportedly ran through a roadside gutter, causing the driver to lose control before it overturned, according to John.

Investigators from the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) are reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. — /IHM (FREEMAN)