Car hits, injures Mandaue traffic enforcer

CEBU, Philippines - A traffic enforcer detailed on M.C. Briones national highway in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City was seriously injured when she was hit by a car after assisting school children to cross the street past 7 a.m. yesterday.

Evelyn Suan, 36, married, a resident of Barangay Guizo of the city and  member of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, was rushed to the hospital after she was hit by a Toyota Avanza driven by Zosimo Mangubat, 62, a resident of Barangay Lower Tabok.

Senior Police Officer 4 Apolinario Niez of Mandaue City Police Office Traffic Division said Suan was in the middle of the national highway fronting the St. Anne Learning Center when she was hit by Mangubat's car.

It was learned that Suan just finished ushering school children towards the school gate.

Police said when she returned to the middle of the road to police traffic, she was then hit by the car causing her to be thrown several meters away on the asphalted road, sustaining injuries in different parts of her body.

The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation brought Suan to Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City, while Mangubat personally surrendered himself to the traffic police who responded to the alarm.

During investigation, Mangubat said he was coming from UN Avenue after dropping his daughter at St. Louis School in Barangay Maguikay.

He added that upon his return, he stopped for a while at a mall before proceeding to traverse the national highway.

While travelling, he said he checked the traffic on the left lane but when he looked at the front of the road, he just heard a sudden impact.

He then saw the victim was already thrown several meters from his car.

SPO4 Niez said further investigation will be conducted as the victim could no longer recall what had really happened to her.

Mangubat is currently detained at the Basak Police Station pending the filing of charges of reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries.

Meanwhile, his daughter, Mercy Arsenio, is attending to the medical needs of the victim at the hospital. — Flor Z. Perolina (FREEMAN)