A Singapore-based Filipina nurse was killed when an ambulance she was riding was hit by a speeding pickup in Cebu City past midnight Tuesday.
Trecie Abaño, 44, a native of Bislig, Surigao del Sur was thrown out of the ambulance where she was seated near the rear door, the point of impact.
The ambulance was carrying an American patient from Chong Hua Hospital to the Mactan airport to catch a chartered flight to Singapore.
The patient 37-year-old Michael Jasmin of San Diego, California and six others inside the vehicle were injured and brought back to the hospital.
Police detained the driver of the Toyota Hilux, 20-year-old Noel Anthony Logarta, a university student in Cebu City.
He tested positive for liquor use. He and his unidentified companion suffered only minor injuries.
Police said Logarta, a resident of Mountain View Village in Quiot, Pardo, came from Asiatown IT Park when the accident happened at 12:20 a.m.
Logarta told police he was driving at 50 kph to 60kph at that time and because the traffic light was still flashing, he continued speeding at the corner of J Luna and MJ Cuenco avenue but the ambulance suddenly appeared on his lane, so he hit them.
The vehicle is owned by his father.
At 4 p.m. Logarta was brought to the prosecutor’s office for the filing of a charge of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and multiple physical injuries with damage to properties.
Another taxi cab was also damaged after being hit by the Toyota pickup.
P02 Edgardo Becoy, investigator of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) said Abaño was escorting a patient to catch a chartered flight to Singapore.
The patient worked in AT & T, one of the largest US telecom firms, which arranged for Jasmin to be flown to Singapore for further medical treatment.
The ambulance overturned. The nurse who was sitting near the rear door was thrown out on the road.
Paramedics of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) responded to the accident and brought the nurse and six others to Chong Hua Hopsital, but the nurse was declared dead.
The patient, Jasmin, was brought to the ICU. His injuries and condition before the mishap were not disclosed.
Five others taken to the hospital were the ambulance driver Juan Cabigas, 38, and passengers Mahsee Choong, Milan Lester Ningaska, Roy Jumao-as, and Datukon Sayyio.
Becoy said they had scratches and bruises. Choong, a Singaporean doctor, and the others were discharged. Only the driver remained at the hospital.With Chito Aragon and BenCyrus Ellorin