LTO suspends license of motorist seen sideswiping motorcycle on Edsa

Screengrab of a dashcam video posted on social media seeing the motorcycle taxi rider and his female passenger falling off the motorcycle after being sideswiped by the motorist in a red hatchback car. Video courtesy of Wilbur Burgonio

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said on Thursday that the driver’s license of the motorist who sideswiped a motorcycle taxi injuring the rider and the passenger along Edsa had been preventively suspended.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II ordered the suspension of the driver’s license, the agency said in a statement.

Screengrab of a dashcam video seconds before the rider and his female passenger fall off their motorcycle after being sideswiped by the motorist in a red hatchback car. Video courtesy of WIlbur Burgonio

It added that a show-cause order was also issued to the 53-year-old driver of the red hatchback car to explain his side.

According to LTO, the driver committed violations under Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, namely: reckless driving (Section 48), duty of a driver in case of accident (Section 55), and improper person to operate a vehicle (Section 27-a).

Based on a police report, the incident happened along Edsa’s southbound lane in Barangay Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City on Wednesday.

The motorcycle allegedly overtook the car, which enraged the driver of the car.

Report said that the driver of the car got angry and shouted at the rider because they almost collide. This further infuriated the driver when the motorcycle rider ignored his warning.

This led the SUV driver to sideswipe the motorcycle, causing both the rider and a female passenger to fall to the ground and sustain injuries.

The incident was captured on the dash camera of another vehicle, uploaded online, and went viral.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority traffic enforcers arrested the SUV driver moments after the incident.

Report said that the car is registered under the name of a local bank, which could be still under loan by the car owner.

“Lagi nating pinapaalalahanan ang ating mga motorista na huwag mamayani ang galit sa kalsada dahil walang magadang maibubunga ito,” said Mendoza in the statement.

READ: Motorcycle rider dies in freak accident along Edsa

(We always remind our motorists not to get angry on the road because nothing good will come of it.)

READ: Driver injured in ambulance-bus Edsa busway collision

“In this case for instance, it only resulted in serious problems for the Suzuki driver because of the charges that may be filed against him and on the part of the LTO, an investigation that may result in the revocation of his privilege to drive,” he added.

(In this case for instance, it only resulted in serious problems for the Suzuki driver because of the charges that may be filed against him and on the part of the LTO, an investigation that may result in the revocation of his privilege to drive.)

LTO said that its National Capital Region Office will conduct further investigation on the matter in the spirit of due process.