Cabbie dies in mishap
A taxi cab driver was killed while two other men were injured in a five-
vehicle mishap which occurred after the driver of a sport utility vehicle tried to beat the red light at a major intersection in Quezon City Sunday morning, according to a police traffic report.
Police Officer 3 Andy Sotto of the Quezon City Traffic Enforcement Group said that the cab driver, 38-year-old Efren Datu, a resident of Barangay Sta. Maria in Novaliches, Quezon City, died on the spot.
On the other hand, the driver of the speeding SUV—a Toyota Land Cruiser with plate number ULB 226—was identified as Jeremiah Recto, 27, a tattoo artist and resident of Congressional Village, also in Quezon City.
He sustained minor injuries in the accident and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
“Recto [tried to beat the red light] but he rammed the right side portion of the taxi. [The Land Cruiser] flipped over several times, landed on the other side of the road and hit more vehicles,’’ Sotto said.
He added that the accident took place at the intersection of Congressional and Mindanao Avenues in Barangay Bahay Toro around 5:20 a.m. Sunday.
After it was hit by Recto’s SUV, Datu’s taxi cab flipped over several times until it came to rest in the middle of the road.
The victim died on the spot while his cab was wrecked.
Recto’s SUV also flipped over a few times after it rammed the victim’s taxi cab. Before it came to rest, it hit a passenger jeepney and a Toyota Altis.
Recto suffered a broken left arm and several cuts and bruises. He was brought to Quezon City General Hospital for treatment along with a motorcycle driver who was behind Datu’s taxi cab when it was hit by the SUV.
The injured motorcycle driver was identified as Jimmy Macasaya, 26, a resident of Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon.
None of the other drivers involved in the accident were hurt although their vehicles suffered some damage.
The traffic officer said that Recto would be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple physical injuries and multiple damage to property.
