ILOILO City — A sport utility vehicle (SUV) overturned after crashing into concrete barriers in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro district early Thursday morning, July 16, after its driver allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel.
The accident occurred at around 5:20 a.m., according to Police Master Sgt. Jeremy Minerva, traffic investigator for the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
Minerva reported that the driver, a call center agent from Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, was heading home after picking up his sibling from SM City Iloilo.
Initial police investigation revealed that the SUV was traveling toward Leganes town when it struck the concrete barriers, causing it to overturn.
“Based on our initial investigation, the driver admitted that he may have fallen asleep just before the accident occurred,” Minerva said.
The driver also told investigators that he was blinded by the headlights of an oncoming vehicle.
“The driver stated that he was momentarily blinded by the glaring headlights of an oncoming vehicle right before he hit the concrete barriers,” Minerva added.
Personnel from the Iloilo City Emergency Responders (ICER) immediately rushed to the scene. Despite the severe impact that left the SUV upside down, the driver and his two passengers escaped without any injuries. They declined transport to the hospital after being cleared by the emergency team.
A towing service later removed the damaged vehicle from the scene to clear the roadway and prevent traffic congestion.
Minerva reminded motorists, particularly those driving after overnight shifts or long hours, to prioritize rest before hitting the road.
“Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident. We remind motorists not to continue driving when they are already tired or feeling sleepy to prevent similar incidents,” he said.
“Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident. We strongly remind motorists not to force themselves to drive when they are tired or feeling sleepy to prevent similar life-threatening incidents,” he said./PN
