‘Reckless driving’ raps filed for nurse’s death

A 20-YEAR-OLD student was charged with “reckless” driving under the influence of liquor after his pickup collided with an ambulance, killing a Filipino nurse.

Criminal charges were filed in the Muncipal Trial Court in Cities  against Noel Anthony Pedrosa Logarta,  driver of  the  Toyota Hilux pick-up that rear-ended the ambulance at 12:20 a.m. Tuesday  in Cebu City.

He was charged with reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and multiple physical injuries with damage to properties.

Logarta was unable to attend inquest proceedings yesterday. He was reportedly confined at the Visayan Community Medical Center in Cebu City for injuries.

Initial witness reports, however,  said he walked out of the pickup unharmed after the accident took place at the junction near the Mabolo parish church.

Logarta tested positive for alcohol use when police took him to the Cebu City Medical Center immediately after the collision.

Remains of  the Singapore-based nurse Trecie Abaño   were flown to Manila yesterday.

Abaño was in the Chong Hua Hospital ambulance escorting 37-year-old patient Michael Rubio Jazmin who was scheduled to take a private plane to Singapore.

In the information filed in court, prosecutors said the ambulance was hit by the front  of the Toyota pickup driven by Logarta, a resident of Mountain View Village “with no proper observance of traffic rules and regulations”.

Logarta was driving the pickup down Juan Luna Avenue on his way home via the SRP road when he entered the intersection and hit the ambulance.

The ambulance was heading down  MJ Cuenco Avenue en route to the airport when the accident took place.

The nurse suffered severe head and body injuries, and was declared dead in the hospital.

The nephew of Abaño said his aunt’s remains were transported from St. Peter Funeral Homes at  5 a.m.  and sent  to Manila by air cargo.

Her sister, University of Cebu employee Jessica Abaño Selisana, said Trecie will be buried this Sunday.

At the corner of Juan Luna Avenue, near Andok’s restaurant,  Logarta’s pickup slammed front-first into the ambulance.

Logarta, a resident of Mountain View Village in Quiot, barangay Pardo Cebu City, told police that he was driving at over 50 kph at the time.

Abaño was rushed back to Chong Hua Hospital where doctors declared her dead on arrival (DOA).

Also injured were Milan Lester Nengasca, Mah See Choo Ng, Roy Jumao-as Benites, and Ronron Datucan. They only sustained minor bruises.

City police urged motorists to give way to ambulances or even pursuing police to avoid similar accidents in the future. Correspondent Chito Aragon and CNU Intern Mary Elaine Baring