ACCORDING to the dictionary, an accident is an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury.
I’m not sure if what happened to Leonardo Inso last Saturday night, Aug. 22, 2020, could qualify as one.
The 60-year-old security guard was on his way home to Minglanilla when the Toyota Innova Ronniel Fabon was driving hit his motorcycle on the Cebu South Coastal Road in Barangay San Isidro, Talisay City.
The news report in Superbalita Cebu said Inso was killed on impact, his body and motorcycle dragged for several meters before they ended up rammed into a wheel of a passing prime mover.
My translation doesn’t do justice to the images evoked by the Cebuano narration, but a picture of the incident does show the almost unrecognizable mangled metal that used to be Inso’s motorcycle.
Trust me. What happened was far from unfortunate. It was downright tragic.
Fabon, a 45-year-old mechanic, told authorities he was also on his way home to Barangay Quiot, Cebu City after fixing a stalled vehicle when a motorcycle appeared out of nowhere and was suddenly in front of him. Fabon reportedly tried to avoid hitting it, but he lost control of the steering wheel and his brakes allegedly wouldn’t work.
It goes without saying that both drivers must have been driving at high speed. How else do you explain an experienced driver and a mechanic like Fabon losing control of his vehicle and ending up on the other lane to hit the unsuspecting Inso?
The initial report said Fabon was drunk. He later clarified that he only pretended to be inebriated to avoid the crowd that had gathered.
Well, that’s certainly a first, pretending to be under the influence at the scene. That could easily be verified by the arresting officers. Then again, the experience could have sobered him up instantly.
When the news came out, Fabon was in custody. It’s not known if he and the victim’s wife had reached an amicable settlement. If they hadn’t settled the matter, then he would surely be charged with reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and damage to property.
I’m not here to judge. Oh who am I kidding? Of course, I am.
Granted, Fabon might have been telling the truth. That an overtaking motorcycle caught him by surprise. That his brakes and steering wheel malfunctioned when he tried to avoid it so he ended up on the other lane. That he only pretended to be drunk afterwards.
No doubt the whole thing happened in a split second.
However, Inso would still be alive now had Fabon been driving at normal speed. The fact that what happened, happened, was not at all unexpected. It was inevitable.