Speeding drivers made BGC crossing bloody for Thai woman

The police are set to file charges against the driver of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that ran over a Thai woman after being hit by another vehicle Tuesday morning at Bonifacio Global City.

The incident sent Jecinta Coote, 34, to St. Luke’s Medical Center at the BGC where she remained confined at press time. Coote, who is married to an Australian and is reportedly pregnant, sustained injuries in the head and body.

In an interview Wednesday night, the Taguig City police chief, Senior Supt. Arthur Asis, said that barring an amicable settlement, criminal charges would be filed against Rolando Manese, the driver of the Toyota Fortuner SUV (AAL 6646) that hit Coote as she was crossing the street using the pedestrian lane.

But he said Manese’s vehicle was first hit by a Fortuner wagon (NMI 615) driven by Anne Alison Soriano, a BGC resident. The incident happened at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 30th Street at 11:15 a.m.

“Both vehicles were speeding and, upon reaching the intersection, the other vehicle rammed the side of Manese’s vehicle that’s why it fell on its side,” Asis said.

The police’s findings also jibed with eyewitness accounts earlier posted on social media saying it was the vehicle with license plate AAL 6646 that hit Coote.

The Taguig police chief also maintained that it was not a case of hit and run, saying the two drivers—who were both unhurt—stayed at the scene until an ambulance brought Coote to the hospital.

Asis said the investigators had yet to talk to Coote herself and had only spoken to her Australian husband, Douglas.

Unless an amicable settlement is reached between Manese and the Cootes, charges of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries would be filed against Manese, a resident of Paco, Manila, he said.

As to Soriano’s liability, Asis said it would be up to Manese to sue her.