3 cops hurt in Pasig City road mishap

Will cops ever learn to obey traffic rules?

Four people were hurt, including three policemen, when a police car ignored a red light and rammed a van yesterday in an intersection in Pasig City. "The police car beat the red light," witnesses told traffic investigators.

Injured were PO2 Eleuterio Hernandez, 39; PO1 Michael Famillara and PO1 Joselito Esmallaner, all of the Pasig City Police Community Precinct 1. They are now being treated at the Medical City Hospital.

The driver of the Isuzu Crosswind van was identified as Porferio Fernandez, 37, of Merville Subdivision, Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City. He sustained minor injuries.

Hernandez, who was behind the wheel of the Pasig City police car with body number E-244, claimed he tried to beat the red light at the corner of Julia Vargas and Lanusa streets because they were responding to an emergency call at about 9 a.m.

However, Hernandez refused to say what the emergency situation was, saying the caller asked to remain anonymous.

For his part, the driver of the van said he stepped on the gas after seeing the traffic light turn green.

"The police car appeared from nowhere. I failed to notice the police car because a parked vehicle was blocking my view," Fernandez said.

He pointed that the blinkers and siren of the patrol car were not on at the time of the incident,

The front side of the mobile car was totally wrecked because of the impact. – Non Alquitran