Traffic police says SUV driver at fault for mishap

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wants more rubber tires in the middle of S. Osmena Road to prevent crossover collissions like the one of a SUV and taxi in Thursday’s accident. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)

The driver of a sports utility vehicle was at fault for the crossover collision on S. Osmeña Road last week, a traffic investigator said.

SPO2 Dominador Ungab of the Traffic Division said their initial investigation showed that Marcelo Tan, driver of the SUV bound for Mandaue City, encroached on the southbound lane.

READ: SUV smashes into concrete barrier before hitting taxi

Tan’s vehicle hit a concrete barrier before ramming into the Ken taxi driven by Valerio Boybanting and a parked multicab. Boybanting was bound for Talisay City in the south.

“If right to passage is our basis, why would the SUV reach the opposite lane when it is headed to Mandaue City?” Ungab said.

Ungab said it was possible that Tan lost control of his SUV after he hit the barrier.
The impact of the collision caused the taxi to spin around.

Payment

“It’s possible that Tan was speeding at 40-70 kph (kilometers per hour). We also have to consider that the SUV driven by Tan is bigger than the taxi, that’s why the taxi is a total wreck. Or maybe when Tan tried to hit the brakes, he hit the accelerator instead,” he said.

Ungab said Tan and Boybanting or his representative should go to his office to make his report official.

“That is per requirement for a proper investigation,” he said.

READ: Injured taxi driver seeks compensation

Ungab said Tan will have to shoulder payment of the damages and also refund Boybanting’s medical bills and expenses.

Tan’s wife visited Boybanting at the hospital last week and reportedly expressed willingness to shoulder the expenses.

Boybanting is confined at the Chong Hua Hospital.

“We are communicating with Tan through the representative of Ken Taxi. I will go to Citom to get a copy of the report,” Boybanting’s daughter Juvalyn said.

Boybanting was with a female passenger when the accident happened.

Boybanting was lauded by the Consulate of the Republic of Korea for returning P254,208 cash to a Korean passenger last month.

Kim Eul Chol and his girlfriend boarded Boybanting’s taxi at Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital and got off at Parkmall in Mandaue City, accidentally leaving his jacket containing the money and some documents.

Rubber tires

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to continue putting rubber tires in the middle of S. Osmena road in lieu of a center island.

The center island was removed and the trees on it transplanted as part of the road rehabilitation project.

Rama said rubber tires would have prevented the SUV from going over to the other lane.

“I’ve been telling them to put more so there is really a center. The DPWH should be on top of that, together with the contractor and Citom (City Traffic Operations and Management),” Rama said.

He added that the DPWH should also place reflectors along the highway./With Reporter Jose Santino S. Bunachita