Authorities looking for SUV driver linked to SLEX hit-and-run involving HPG rider
Many riders consider tollways among the safest roads in the country. There are no jeepneys suddenly stopping in the middle of the road to load or unload passengers, no pedestrians or animals darting across, and no slow-moving e-bikes weaving through traffic. But that sense of safety can disappear in an instant when a motorist drives recklessly. When that happens, motorcycle riders often bear the greatest risk, as seen in a recent viral video.
Authorities are now working to identify and locate the SUV driver involved in a hit-and-run incident along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). In the viral video, a speeding SUV appears to sideswipe a rider from the PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG) while changing lanes, sending the officer flying and onto the pavement. The HPG rider reportedly sustained minor injuries in the incident.
NAPOLCOM VCEO, Rafael Calinisan, condemned the incident and called for a swift investigation, urging authorities to maximize all available evidence, including CCTV footage, dashcam recordings, and witness accounts. According to Calinisan, reckless imprudence does not require intent, only a failure to exercise the proper care expected of a responsible driver.
Calinisan also emphasized that while NAPOLCOM remains firm in holding erring police officers accountable, it is equally committed to protecting law enforcers who become victims while carrying out their duties. He stressed that anyone whose actions endanger lives and undermine lawful authority must face the consequences, adding that no one is above the law.
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has already identified the vehicle involved and issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) to both the registered owner and the assigned driver through its Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID). The driver may face charges for Reckless Driving and Violation of the Duty of a Driver in Case of Accident. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the driver could also be declared an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle, which may result in the suspension or revocation of their driver’s license.
As part of due process, the LTO ordered the driver to surrender his/her license, which has been placed under a 90-day preventive suspension. LTO Chief, Markus Lacanilao, said the agency will conduct a thorough investigation and ensure accountability, reiterating that leaving the scene of an accident, especially when someone has been injured, is unacceptable.
This incident immediately reminded me of a feature article we wrote just recently titled “60 years later: Are Pinoys taking Road Safety seriously?” In that piece, we talked about how, despite six decades of road safety campaigns and reminders every May, many Filipinos still treat road safety as an afterthought rather than a shared responsibility.
Cases like this are exactly why that conversation remains relevant. 60 years after the country first recognized road safety as a national concern, we still see the same dangerous habits of many road users.
