‘Sudden U-Turn’ blamed for fatal CSCR motorcycle-pickup collision
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Initial police investigation showed that a motorcycle rider’s alleged “immediate U-turn” led to a fatal collision with a pickup truck along the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) on Saturday afternoon, June 13.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Cebu City Police Office identified the motorcycle driver as Bernel Navares and his passenger as Krystal Claire Mondares, an employee of a nearby shopping mall.
Investigators said the motorcycle was traveling in the northbound lane when it approached an intersection along CSCR in Cebu City’s South Road Properties.
Initial reports said that despite having a signal to continue northbound, Navares allegedly made a sudden U-turn.
READ: 2 killed in Cebu South Coastal Road accident
Collision with pickup truck
At the same time, a Ford Raptor driven by 23-year-old John Tabacon was traveling in the opposite direction.
Tabacon told investigators that he saw the motorcycle suddenly turn into his lane while attempting the U-turn.
He said he swerved toward the outer right lane and applied his brakes to avoid a collision. However, the motorcycle still struck the pickup truck.
The impact threw Navares and Mondares onto the roadway and dragged them about 25 meters from the point of collision.
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Two fatalities
Responding authorities declared Navares dead at the scene.
Meanwhile, Mondares suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Cebu City Medical Center for treatment, where she was later declared dead.
Both vehicles sustained damage, although authorities have yet to determine the cost.
READ: 1 killed, 3 hurt in motorcycle-pickup collision in Leyte
Ongoing investigation
The pickup driver remains in police custody while investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Police said they are preparing to file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in double homicide, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, dashcam footage of the incident circulating online has sparked discussions on road safety and calls for stricter traffic enforcement in accident-prone sections of the CSCR.
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