TWO separate vehicular accidents involving multiple vehicles occurred in different areas of Davao City on Thursday and Friday, July 20 and 21.
On Thursday, around 9:30 p.m., a road crash happened along Carlos P. (C.P.) Garcia Highway in Matina Pangi Diversion Road.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) reported that eight vehicles were involved in this incident. A taxi was traveling southbound on C.P. Garcia went towards Maa's direction, while two motorcycle riders and a bicycle rider were heading from Matina Pangi towards the highway.
A truck, traveling in the opposite direction towards Ulas direction, suddenly swerved to the opposite side of the road, resulting in multiple collisions with the vehicles. The truck, carrying loaded steel bars, spilled its cargo onto the street, causing additional damage.
Five individuals, including drivers and passengers, were taken to Southern Philippines Medical Center. The truck driver, found under the influence of alcohol, was detained for filing charges.
Meanwhile, another road crash occurred around 3 p.m. at C.P. Garcia Highway and Catalunan Grande Intersection in Bangkal. In this incident, eight vehicles were involved, including a Toyota Vios, a trailer truck, a taxi, two pick-up trucks, a Fortuner, a motorcycle, and a dump truck.
Initial investigations revealed that all involved vehicles were traveling southbound on Carlos P. Garcia Highway from the north direction. The trailer truck veered to the right, colliding with the front right end of the Vios, while the dump truck hit the left side of the motorcycle and Fortuner.
The impact pushed the other vehicles toward the rear of the trailer truck.
The motorcycle driver and two Fortuner passengers were injured and taken to Davao Doctors Hospital. Investigations are still ongoing for this incident.
Meanwhile, the DCPO-Traffic Enforcement Unit (DCPO-TEU) recently reported an increase in vehicular accidents in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
According to the data provided by DCPO-TEU, there were 2,942 reported car crash incidents from January to June 2023, representing a 30 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022, which had a total of 2,251 incidents.
Of the 2,942 incidents, 59 were hit-and-run cases, accounting for 0.2 percent of the overall vehicular incidents. DCPO-TEU Chief PMajor Dexter Domingo attributed the rise in reported incidents and vehicles involved to easing Covid-19 restrictions due to the improved healthcare situation resulting from a high vaccination rate. Additionally, the increase in vehicles on the roads was caused by the resumption of face-to-face classes at all levels.
DCPO-TEU Chief PMajor Dexter Domingo said the increase in the reported incidents and vehicles involved was due to the relaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions following the improving healthcare situation caused by the large number of vaccinated population.
In addition, the increased number of vehicles on the roads is due to the resumption of face-to-face classes at all levels. (RGL)