One more dies as speed limit coverage expands on ‘killer highway’

The night before the expanded coverage of the 60-kph speed limit took effect on Commonwealth Avenue, the Quezon City road notoriously dubbed the “killer highway” claimed one more life.

A woman was hit by a speeding jeepney while crossing Commonwealth late Monday. Maybelin Poliarco, 26, died from head injuries before reaching the hospital following the accident on the northbound lane near Don Fabian Street.

The jeepney driver, Jeremy Lagua, later surrendered to authorities.

SPO1 Edgardo Talacay of the Quezon City Police District said there was no footbridge or zebra lane near the area where the victim chose to cross the highway around 6:40 p.m.

Poliarco’s death added to the long list of accident victims— pedestrians, commuters and motorists—that had prompted authorities to impose a speed limit on portions of the highway last year.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) extended the area covered by the restrictions starting Tuesday and apprehended over 160 motorists for violations during the first few hours of enforcement.

The restrictions initially covered the stretch from Philcoa to Batasan, and was extended starting this week by 2.3-km to Doña Carmen. Violators face a fine of P1,200.

MMDA Assistant General Manager Emerson Carlos said the agency is ready to present videos as proof in case an erring motorist would challenge the citation.

“There are portions of Commonwealth that are 18-lanes wide so motorists tend to speed up. The extended coverage of the traffic scheme is aimed at further improving traffic along the 12.4-kilometer highway and preventing road accidents,” MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said in a statement.

Tolentino also noted that despite the ban on drag racing, some racers are still using Commonwealth at night.

As of Feb. 21, the MMDA has apprehended a total of 23,798 speeding motorists on the highway since the measure was launched last year.

A similar restriction was later enforced on Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City.

The MMDA had procured additional speedguns for its traffic constables for a more extensive implementation of the speed limit, the agency’s chief said.