Man hits patrol car, injured

CEBU, Philippines - A motorcycle driver was injured after he reportedly hit a patrol car yesterday along Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City.

Romeo Salvatiera, of Barangay Basak-Pardo, suffered cuts and wounds following collision with Pardo Police Station’s patrol car, with the station chief onboard inspecting the roads for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

Police Officer 1 Heinz Michael Llenos, the driver of the patrol car, said he was about to make a U-turn when a motorcycle coming from the other lane suddenly hit the car.

Onboard the car was station chief, Chief Inspector Michael Angelo Beltran, who was checking on his men deployed in the streets for the APEC Summit activities that start today.

Using blinkers and siren, Llenos said he maneuvered for a U-turn. The car was already at the center of the road and the vehicles behind it have stopped when Salvatiera, on the other lane counterflowing the traffic, ended up hitting the left side of the patrol car.

Llenos stopped the car while Salvatiera fell from his motorcycle and was brought by paramedics to Cebu City Medical Center after sustaining wounds to his leg and body.

Cebu City Transportation Office personnel Bonifacio Asentista responded and took the facts and sketch of what happened.

The patrol car was dented on its left and its signal light was damaged following the incident.

Beltran said that while investigation is ongoing, they will still use the car as it is the only serviceable vehicle of their police station.

The vehicle is among the 14 new patrol cars distributed by the Cebu City government to Cebu City Police Office in October last year. — Bryner L. Diaz/NSA (FREEMAN)