Police vehicle undergoes checks after accident leaves 5 dead
The manufacturer of the police vehicle that figured in an accident which killed five persons under police custody (PUPCs) last week is conducting checks to figure out what caused it.
“Toyota is conducting a technical inspection to find out if something went wrong with the vehicle,” Quezon City Police District Traffic Enforcement Unit (QCPD TEU) chief Lt. Col. Josef Geoffrey Lim told reporters at a briefing in Camp Crame on Monday.
“But based on the initial statements, the driver lost control. He found it hard to control [the vehicle] since [it] was wobbling. Allegedly, they felt the car made a sudden movement,” he added. “Based on the statements we have obtained, he wasn’t going that fast.”
Lim could not say when the inspection would be completed, saying only that they would follow up the matter with Toyota.
The QCPD vehicle, a Toyota Hilux, was transferring the six PUPCs from the Project 6 Police Station to the Quezon City Jail when it crashed into a wall on Payatas Road on April 24.
The PUPCs were accompanied by four police officers, including the driver who was also a policeman.
Five of the PUPCs died while the sixth PUPC and all four police officers were injured. The law enforcers are currently undergoing treatment at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame.
Negative for alcohol
The policeman driver, who tested negative for alcohol, has since been charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides, multiple physical injuries and damage to property before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, Lim said.
“Since we filed the case, the driver is no longer speaking. He will answer at the proper forum,” the QCPD TEU chief added.
He said that before the accident, the QCPD’s police mobiles had undergone monthly inspections.
Lim also dismissed online speculation that the crash was planned since only the PUPCs died.
“We’re looking at all the possibilities as to the possible liabilities of the Philippine National Police (PNP), not just the QCPD, if there was any negligence,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said.
The QCPD TEU identified the deceased PUPCs by their aliases as “Raymark,” 24; “Donato,” 61; “Rogie,” 37; “Jhojaman,” 51; and “Jing,” 45. They died because of blunt force traumatic injuries to the head, trunk and extremities as well as hemorrhagic shock.
