Driver faces charges such as driving without a license, underage driving, drunk driving, on top of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide.
Cyclists gather in Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City to mourn and pray for the souls of Jerico Aguila and John Pablo Santos who were resting on a sidewalk when a van rammed them yesterday, March 16.
They were resting under a shade on a sidewalk of SM Mall of Asia’s Seaside Boulevard after a morning bike ride when a white van made a sudden U-turn and rammed into them, ABS-CBN reported.
Despite efforts by the Philippine National Police, SM Emergency Response Team, and a private emergency medical service unit onsite, they died on spot.
The driver, identified by the public as Clark Malasaga, was found to be intoxicated and he was a minor.
Worse, the 19-year old driver did not have a driver’s license and was intoxicated as shown by a Field Sobriety Test and Alcohol Breath Analyzer Test,” the inter-agency council for traffic said.
The erring driver is now in the custody of PNP to face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, damage to property, and violation of the Anti-Drugs law and driving under the influence (DUI) of liquor.
Cyclists mourn
Fellow cyclists mourned their passing by installing a simple memorial at the corner of Seaside Boulevard and Bayshore Avenue.
On the morning of March 17, the cycling community dedicated their morning lap as “a display of solidarity and support to the victims of this drunk driving incident.”
Biking news site First Bike Ride wrote that the section of the road the two men were used to be exclusive for cyclists during off-hours but was only recently opened to motorized vehicles.
“Cyclists enjoy an exclusive long portion of Mall of Asia’s Seaside Boulevard from 5 am to 8 am. The stretch was recently shortened,” they added.
MOA cyclists claim that the shortened hours was due to a recent viral dashcam video of bikers caught beating the red light in the area on March 9. The post resulted in bashing cyclists and riders ignoring road signals.
After the post went viral, MOA turned off the street lights and barricaded the areas for bikers but allegedly shortened the window time.
Tags: #cycling, #biking, #recklessdriver, #drunkdriver, #jericoandjohnpablo