MMDA personnel dead after being hit by SUV on EDSA; parties settle

A personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) died after getting hit by an SUV at the EDSA P. Tuazon tunnel in Quezon City on Saturday. The SUV driver was later released from police custody on Sunday after an amicable settlement was reached.

The accident happened a few minutes before 2 a.m. on Saturday, according to a report by Nico Waje on 24 Oras Weekend on Saturday.

Two personnel of the MMDA Parkway and Clearing department were at the northbound side of the tunnel to clean tiles on the wall.

One of them was cleaning the tiles while the other one was directing traffic.

Traffic cones were placed on the road to cordon off one lane. Three warning devices were also placed in the area.

However, CCTV footage showed that one SUV entered the cordoned-off lane and hit the MMDA personnel manning traffic.

According to the other MMDA personnel cleaning, the SUV was moving fast, resulting in the accident.

The victim was brought to a hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The SUV driver was taken into custody and was to face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, according to Police Captain Napoleon Cabigon, commander of the Quezon City Police District Traffic Sector 3.

"Definitely, we'll be looking into proper action or even legal remedies as regards po sa nangyari dito sa ating personnel... As always naman, 'yung safety ng ating mga personnel is the first and foremost priority ng ating ahensiya and as regards to safety measures, sufficient naman po," MMDA Strike Force officer-in-charge Gabriel Go said.

(Definitely, we'll be looking into proper action or even legal remedies as regards to what happened to our personnel... As always, the safety of our personnel is the first and foremost priority of our agency and as regards to safety measures, these were sufficient.)

At midnight Sunday, the relatives of the victim and the SUV driver reached an amicable settlement, Cabigon said, according to a report by Jhomer Apresto on Super Radyo dzBB.

The driver admitted having fallen asleep behind the wheel and did not notice the MMDA personnel. He was not able to step on the brake immediately. He said he regrets what happened.

The driver will take care of the cost of the wake and burial and will provide financial assistance to support the victim's family, according to his lawyer Atty. Angelyn Gonzaga. —KG, GMA Integrated News