Driver of Matrix in 3-car crash found at fault

The driver of the car that collided with a pickup truck, causing the truck to flip over and hit another vehicle near Sugar King Park in Garapan at noon on Thursday, was found at fault in the accident. Three of the pickup’s passengers were injured in the crash.

Police officer Jason Tarkong said Friday that the 53-year-old male driver of the blue 2005 Toyota Matrix five-door wagon caused the three-car crash in Garapan.

The driver, a Chinese male music teacher, had no injuries.

Tarkong said a 53-year-old Filipino who was seated on the bed of the pickup truck had serious injuries and underwent surgery. He is currently in the intensive care unit of the Commonwealth Health Center.

The driver and the other passenger of the truck were treated at CHC and later released. Both are Filipinos.

Tarkong said police responded to the triple auto collision at the corner of Chalan Pale Arnold and Kopa Di Oru Street on Thursday at 12:08pm. At the time of the crash, it was cloudy and the road surface was wet.

Traffic investigators learned from witnesses that the white 1990 Toyota Hilux pickup truck was traveling south on the inner lane and was approaching the corner of Kopa Di Oru Street when the blue 2005 Toyota Matrix five-door wagon entered the southbound outer lane from a nearby Hanmi Hardware store. The Toyota Matrix then switched to the inner lane, colliding with the Toyota Hilux pickup.

The Toyota Matrix went under the Toyota Hilux pickup truck, lifting the truck up and pushing it to the opposite side of the lane. The truck overturned and collided with a blue 2010 Honda Civic four-door sedan that was traveling north on the inner lane.

The driver of the blue Honda Civil, a 47-year-old local female, was not injured.

The occupant of the truck, who was seated on the bed, was thrown onto the northbound shoulder after it collided with the Toyota Matrix.

Medics had to extract the truck’s driver and another passenger who were trapped under the overturned truck. All three occupants of the truck were brought to CHC.

In the auto-pedestrian crash along Beach Road in Susupe Thursday night, Tarkong said an 18-year-old Chinese male was admitted to CHC’s intensive care unit for serious injuries.

Tarkong said the other pedestrian, a 22-year-old Chinese male, had minor injuries and was released after being treated at CHC’s emergency room.

Tarkong said the vehicles that struck the pedestrians were a white 2001 Honda Civic four-door sedan and a red 2015 Toyota Rav 4. Both drivers of the two vehicles were not injured. Traffic investigators placed the incident under further investigation.

The accident occurred on Thursday at 6:30pm, along Beach Road in front of the former Chow Queen Restaurant.

Traffic investigators learned from witnesses that the two pedestrians were attempting to cross Beach Road from the former Chow Queen Restaurant toward Kanoa Resort.

Tarkong said the white Honda Civic, driven by a 47-year-old Filipino woman, was traveling north on the inner northbound lane when it hit the two pedestrians, causing them to fall onto the inner southbound lane.

The 22-year-old pedestrian stood up and moved to the center divider, while the 18-year-old pedestrian was still on the ground.

The Toyota Rav 4, which was driven by an 18-year-old local male, run over the 18-year-old pedestrian, who was still on the ground.