TV exec in carpark crash ‘suffered stroke’

MANILA, Philippines - A 73-year-old television executive, whose car fell from the third level of the Greenhills Shopping Center carpark building last Friday, may have suffered a stroke during the mishap, San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez said yesterday.

Gomez asked the public to pray for the recovery of Juanito Nocos, vice president for sales of the Basketball TV, “who (had) a mild stroke that might have caused this incident,” which damaged eight vehicles and injured a driver.

Also yesterday, Nocos was formally charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple damages to property and physical injuries before the city prosecutor’s office.

Superintendent Jose Rivera, officer-in-charge of the San Juan police said the owners of a gray Toyota Vios (XVN-337), dark gray Mitsubishi Montero (AAA-7341), and a Honda Jazz (PXI-615) acted as complainants of the case against Nocos.

He said the police submitted as evidence the statements of the car owners and the pictures taken at the site of the incident.

Rivera refused to divulge the identities of the car owners, who made the request to “protect their privacy.”

Five other vehicles – a Ford Ranger (WWO-829), Nissan Caravan (RDM-205), Toyota Fortuner (WC-6322), Ford Fiesta (IP-3147) and Toyota Vios (MOO-439) – were damaged by the car plunge.

The driver of the Fortuner was slightly hurt but his three children escaped unscathed. However, Rivera said two other car owners have signified their intention to file charges against Nocos.

The remaining three car owners claimed they would not bother to file a complaint as their vehicles were only slightly damaged, Rivera said.

Private matter

Rivera said he paid Nocos a visit at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center Tuesday but his doctors prevented Nocos from talking to him, claiming it was a private matter.

Nocos’ lawyer also urged the San Juan police to file the charges against his client in court “where we would answer all allegations against him,” according to Rivera.

Reports showed that Nocos, who has been fitted with a pacemaker, “passed out” while at the third level of the parking building and accidentally stepped on the accelerator of his white Mitsubishi Galant (XDP-484). He hit several vehicles before driving through a thin wall and falling to the pavement on Annapolis street.

Nocos was saved from further harm by the air bag of his car. His white sedan was heavily damaged.

Rivera said that upon receiving a report of the incident, he rushed to the site and saw Nocos in one corner, pale and complaining of chest pains.

He said Nocos refused to be brought to the hospital but relented after he pleaded that the executive undergo a thorough checkup.

Land Transportation Office rules bar persons with pacemakers or those who underwent heart bypass surgery from driving, Rivera said.

Timing

Gomez said the Ortigas and Co. Limited Partnership, owner of the entire Greenhills Shopping Center, including the car park building, is cooperating fully with the San Juan police in the investigation of the incident.

“The incident in Greenhills car park was the first of its kind in this city. I’m thankful that when it happened no other people got hurt, knowing that OB Montessori usually dismisses some of its students at around that time,” she said. “That stretch also serves as a walkway for passersby and fetchers and waiting area for school buses.”

Together with the mall management, the city government will enforce stricter measures to avoid other mishaps like this from happening again, Gomez added.