Tuesday, October 07, 2008 Cop dies in truck collision; driver faces raps
ONE of the two Cebu City policemen, who were seriously injured in a vehicular accident in Mandaue City, died three hours after the incident last Sunday.
They were on board a motorcycle when a fish cargo truck hit them at 1 p.m. at Ouano Ave., North Reclamation Area.
PO2 Leonard Dinsay died at the Chong Hua Hospital where he and his companion PO2 Felizardo Callego were brought. Both are members of the Waterfront Police Station miscellaneous team.
Waterfront Police Station Chief David Señor said Dinsay died at 3:50 p.m. from severe injuries.
Dinsay is survived by his two children Leomer,9, and Leonamer, 8, to wife Mercy.
Callego, on the other hand, remains under observation due to head injury.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador visited Callego at the hospital at noon yesterday to check on his status.
In an interview with reporters at the hospital, Comendador said he would coordinate with the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 on the assistance to be extended to the two policemen.
He said Dinsay’s death was a “great loss” to the CCPO because he was one of the most active police personnel at the Waterfront Police Station.
PRO 7 Director Ronald Roderos, in a radio dyLA report, said he ordered Senior Supt. Edward Caranza, regional comptroller to set aside funds for the hospital and burial expenses of Callego and Dinsay, respectively.
Roderos said the PRO7 will also facilitate for the release of Dinsay’s benefits.
When asked about the report that Dinsay and Callego were not wearing helmets during the incident, Comendador said he cannot comment on it because the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) is the one conducting the investigation.
Comendador assured though that the two policemen were in Mandaue City for a “legal purpose.”
Comendador and Senior Insp. Señor said the policemen were heading to the MCPO to coordinate with counterparts in implementing an alias warrant of arrest against Gabby dela Cruz, who was reportedly sighted in Barangay Cambaro, Mandaue City, for theft case.
However, a speeding fish cargo truck, which was reportedly racing with another, hit their motorcycle.
On impact, both policemen were thrown out of the motorcycle, which fell and skidded about 62 ft.
Case filed
Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Traffic Division had already filed two cases against Isuzu truck driver Christopher Lamela, 34, for Dinsay’s death and Callego’s injuries.
Mandaue city Traffic investigator PO2 Ruben Cerdeña said they filed reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and reckless imprudence resulting to physical injury against Lamela yesterday.
Lamela surrendered to Subangdaku police station after the incident where he was still detained yesterday.
His driven truck is owned by GID Fishing Corp. (OCP/JTG)
