A COUNTERFLOWING motorcycle rider triggered a four-vehicle chain collision along MacArthur Highway in Toril, leaving multiple individuals injured early Thursday morning, Oct. 8.
According to the Toril Police Station 8 (Station 8), under acting commander PMAJ Richeen M. Lagnayo, the incident occurred at around a.m. in front of the Paulan Eatery.
Initial investigations revealed that a Yamaha XMAX (V2) and a Yamaha Aerox (V1) were traveling along the middle lane heading toward Toril Proper when a Suzuki Raider, driven by alias Jay, suddenly counterflowed at high speeds.
To avoid a direct head-on collision, the Yamaha XMAX swerved to the left inner lane, but was still sideswiped by the speeding Suzuki Raider.
The out-of-control Raider then slammed directly into the Yamaha Aerox.
Due to the impact, the Raider was hurled toward the outer lane, where it crashed head-on onto a third motorcycle, a Honda XRM (V3), carrying a driver and the unhelmeted back rider.
Rescue 911 (Team A-02) and Barangay Lizada responders rushed the injured drivers to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). Meanwhile, the driver and back rider of XRM opted to seek medical attention independently.
The driver of the Yamaha XMAX sustained minor damage to his vehicle and chose not to press charges, requesting only that the incident be documented for record purposes.
The wreckage of V1 and V3 was subsequently towed to the Toril Police Station for proper disposition, while the damaged Suzuki Raider was retrieved from the scene by the driver’s companions.
Addressing online rumors connecting the incident to illegal street racing, Station 8 clarified that the primary catalyst of the crash was counterflowing.
PMAJ Richeen Lagnayo, the commander of Toril Police Station, confirmed that the counterflowing driver will face formal criminal charges for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries and property damage.
