MANILA, Philippines — An 18-year-old motorist is facing charges of homicide after he figured in an accident in Caloocan City on Wednesday that left a public school teacher and a tricycle driver dead.
John Usher Chua underwent inquest proceedings before the Caloocan prosecutor’s office on Friday on charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple counts of homicide, physical injuries and damage to property, city police chief Col. Ruben Lacuesta told The STAR.
Chua is being detained at the Caloocan police headquarters, according to Lacuesta, who added that the cases are without bail.
A medico-legal certificate issued by the Caloocan Medical Center indicated that Chua was not drunk at the time of the accident.
Chua, a senior high school student, was caught on closed-circuit television footage speeding through the intersection of Gen. Malvar and Tirad Pass streets in a sport utility vehicle before crashing into a tricycle and another SUV.
Chua’s passengers were his classmates, who refused to give statements on the accident. They were supposed to purchase supplies for a school activity, according to earlier reports.
Tricycle driver Benjamin Lazaro, 65, died while being treated at the Caloocan City Medical Center while Ma. Cecila Chua, 50, a public school teacher, died at the scene.
The driver of the other SUV, Orlando Loquinario, 50, and Chua himself suffered injuries from the accident. Loquinario had parked the vehicle while waiting for his wife.