Artman driver out on bail

Eduardo Fabia leaves the Marianas Business Plaza courtroom following his bail modification hearing yesterday. (KIMBERLY A. BAUTISTA)

The driver of the Artman garbage truck that figured in a fatal accident at the Puerto Rico intersection last Feb. 1 that killed a man has been allowed to post a $1,000 bail, soon after his arrest last Friday evening.

The Superior Court has allowed the release of Eduardo Fabia, who is being charged with homicide by vehicle, after he posted 1% of his initial bail, which was $100,000.

During a bail hearing yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho granted the bail modifications for Fabia, 49, and granted his request to appoint his wife as his third-party custodian.

Camacho allowed the Department of Corrections to release Fabia to his wife after she posted a $1,000 cash bail.

Fabia’s original bail amount was set at $100,000. He had asked the court to lower that amount to $10,000 and allow him to post 10% of that, which is just $1,000. Camacho denied reducing Fabia’s bail to $10,000 because of the severity of the case and because he is a flight risk but still allowed him to post a $1,000 bail, but kept the original bail at $100,00 and hold the $99,000 in abeyance.

Camacho also allowed Fabia to continue working with Artman Environment Corp. as a helper but prohibited him from driving any company-owned vehicles. Fabia was imposed a curfew from 5am to 5pm.

Court documents stated that Department of Public Safety officers were able to determine after further investigation that Fabia and his passenger, Cristopher Lucero, lied to police and were at fault in the accident.

Fabia and Lucero said their traffic signal was green and that the silver Honda Ridgeline “came out really fast.”

DPS investigators located a number of eyewitnesses at the Marina Heights Building who stated that they saw the Artman garbage truck run the red light.

Surveillance footage from MH1 and MH 2 were also acquired and investigators said that three different camera angles caught the traffic lights from both sides at the time of the accident. Footage showed that the Artman truck did run a red light.

According to Saipan Tribune archives, the collision that took place last Feb. 1 killed Raju Bhai. Rommel Irang, another passenger of the silver Ridgeline, sustained serious injuries while the driver, Quin Manglona, did not sustain any injuries.

Fabia and Lucero left the scene unscathed.

Last Friday, at around 7pm, Fabia was arrested for traffic signal violations, false reports, and homicide by vehicle.