RECENT police data show that at least 2,400 were killed in road-vehicle crashes in 2017. What a waste. Shockingly, most of the accidents were the result of faulty overtaking.
Last weekend, one freak vehicle accident involved the father-in-law of Sen. Grace Poe. But it was not an overtaking incident.
Dr. Teodorico Llamanzares overshot a parking lot and crashed through the concrete barrier. It happened in Greenhills, San Juan City, Metro Manila.
Llamanzares, fresh from attending a Sunday Mass, was alone driving an automatic sport-utility vehicle (SUV) en route to Greenhills.
Police say the 83-year-old Llamanzares must have stepped on the gas rather than the brake, causing it to plunge.
Fortunately, the SUV hit nothing in its free fall.
Miraculously, Llamanzares was not seriously hurt as attested to by doctors at Cardinal Santos Medical Center. I must say, he must have been saved from major injuries with his seatbelt on.
This was the second time that a similar accident happened at the same parking lot after a car being driven by a 74-year-old male crashed through the same concrete barrier from the third level.
Apparently, the concrete railings weren’t sturdy enough to prevent the crash?
The man, a former executive of the Philippine Basketball Association, was also not hurt seriously, although his car fell into an unattended vehicle down below.
Following Llamanzares’s accident, I’m thinking of urging our lawmakers to craft a law banning octogenarians from driving four-wheel vehicles up.
What do you think, Mr. Senate President Titosen?
Here’s Admiral Fernandez (Luisito, retired): “Pare Al, baka maraming magalit. I had a senior officer who was still driving himself and his wife at the age of 92… I also remember reading a story about the mother of Sen. McCain who was more than 90 years old when she went to Paris with a friend. She could not rent a car because of her age. So she bought a Peugeot instead and toured France driving it…hehehe.”
Any other thoughts, fellers?
Elvis Classic at Moa Complex
Because I missed the annual Test-Drive project recently of Ray Butch “Elvis” Gamboa at the MOA complex in Pasay due to an overseas trip, which is now virtually a classic as it attracts droves of motor buffs every time it is with us, I pay my dues by reprinting the following. It was written by no less than Vernon B. Sarne, my former boss at the now-defunct and iconic Top Gear of the Philippines:
(In the interest of space, BusinessMirror Motoring deemed it best to share the link to the article that Mr. Mendoza is referring to. It can be found at: https://visor.ph/industry/heres-your-chance-to-test-drive-your-dream-cars/.Our apologies.-Ed)
Image credits: Jenny Bleza