|
Monday, July 21, 2003
I’m innocent: bus driver
THE driver of the Mandaue City Government-owned bus that met an accident in Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City last Saturday maintains his innocence in the case.
One of the passengers of the multicab that collided with the bus died in the Mactan Community Hospital three hours after the accident, which occurred 5 p.m. Saturday.
With the help of a Mandaue City policeman, Lapu-Lapu City police picked up Alan Raagas, 46, driver of the Kaohsiung bus (SDC 703), at his residence in Sitio Tribunal, Barangay Centro in Mandaue City past 11 p.m. Saturday.
The delay in Raagas’ arrest surprised Mandaue City Councilor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, because he left instructions for Raagas to be brought to the Lapu-Lapu Police Station right away.
In an interview, Raagas told Sun.Star he never hid from the authorities and is willing to face the consequences of the accident.
Sanctioned
For his part, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano said he will endorse the matter to the City Legal Office.
If an investigation shows Raagas is at fault, the driver would be sanctioned.
Interviewed in the police station jail yesterday afternoon, Raagas said he surrendered to the Mandaue City traffic division after the accident.
He was escorted back to Lapu-Lapu City, thinking that he would be brought to the police station there, but was surprised that he was instead brought back to the scene.
“Nag-agad ra man sad ko,” he told Sun.Star. (I was just following them.)
Homeward
Fortuna, who rushed to the scene upon learning of the accident, saw Raagas there and left instructions to the responding Mandaue cops to bring the driver to the Lapu-Lapu police.
Fortuna said in a telephone interview yesterday afternoon that he will call the attention of the policemen whom he instructed to escort Raagas.
Raagas’ passengers were mostly women and children from Sitio Tribunal who spent the day at the beach.They were on their way home when the accident happened in Sitio Saac II.
Raagas said that while he overtook the tricycle ahead of him, the approaching multicab should have slowed down to allow the bus to get back on its own lane.
“Sila’y nakapiit sa ilang kaugalingon (They got pinned of their own doing),” he said.
He said that if the multicab had given way, it could still have used available road space in proceeding to Punta Engaño.
Raagas, who has been driving since he was 15 years old, said it was his first accident. He started working for the Mandaue City Government in 1994 and was designated as driver in 1996.
PO3 Rogelio Trinidad Jr. of the Lapu-Lapu City traffic division said yesterday that one of the passengers of the multicab died after the accident. Six others suffered bruises and cuts.
Sun.Star called up the Mactan Community Hospital yesterday and was informed that Irene Godinez, who was initially identified only as Ms. X, died at 8:15 p.m. Saturday. She suffered head injuries.
Trinidad also said some of the multicab passengers lost their valuables as a result of the accident. AAG
(July 21, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
