Monday, November 26, 2007
Police patrol slams into civilian’s car
A POLICE patrol car that was chasing an armed person crashed into a Volkswagen Beetle at the Fuente Rotunda yesterday morning.
The Beetle’s passengers, Franz Josef Villalonga, 39, and his wife Vanessa, 29, were taken to the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital. The patrol car damaged their vehicle.
PO2 Norman Ngujo Patindol, 32, was driving the Toyota Innova Car 011 along Osmeña Blvd. when he spotted a man that their base had described.
The base operator had received a call informing them about an armed person. He rode a black Honda XRM motorcycle and was speeding away.
Patindol claimed that his blinkers and siren were on as he pursued the fleeing motorcycle, when the Beetle suddenly crossed his path.
Chief Insp. Arnel Banzon, chief of the Mobile Patrol Group, told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that aside from Car 011, two other patrol cars were pursuing the motorcycle.
When Car 011 crashed into the Beetle, the two other pursuing cars continued the chase until they reached Barangay Kalunasan.
Banzon said the target managed to escape but left behind the motorcycle and his jacket.
Franz, in a text message to Sun.Star Cebu, said he was driving on the inner lane of the rotunda on his way to the McDonald’s outlet when he heard the sirens.
However, when he checked the rear and side mirrors, he said he did not see where it was coming from.
The next thing he knew, the Innova was going against the traffic and headed his way.
The two vehicles collided head-on near the Banco de Oro branch, sending the Beetle spinning until it faced the bank.
Franz’s left knee was bruised while Vanessa was wounded on her forehead, left arm and nose. Both her knees were bruised and she reported pain in her chest and right hip. The gash on her forehead required stitches.
“We’re just happy to be alive,” Franz said, when asked what they planned to do next.
Banzon, for his part, said they were leaving it to the Cebu City Traffic Division to handle the investigation. (MEA)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (November 26, 2007 issue)
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