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Moped catches fire in Finasisu
»Ex-DPS commissioner Castro wonders why DPS, DPW not removing burned moped
Fire of unknown cause burned this moped driven by a man on the hill of Tun Joaquin Doi Road in Finasisu Wednesday afternoon. The driver was not injured. As of Monday, the moped was still not removed from the shoulder of the road. (Ferdie Dela Torre)
A moped driven by a man caught fire on the hill of Tun Joaquin Doi Road in Finasisu last Wednesday afternoon.
The driver, a Chinese man, was not injured, a witness told Saipan Tribune.
Former Department of Public Safety commissioner Jose Castro on Friday told Saipan Tribune he was wondering why DPS or the Department of Public Works has not removed the burned moped from the shoulder of the road.
Castro said under the law DPS or DPW should remove any abandoned vehicle from the streets.
Castro said he called DPS Friday morning, requesting to take out the moped from the road.
A check by Saipan Tribune Monday morning showed that the moped was still on the shoulder of the road. There were signs that the fire spread to the grassy area on the side of the road.
Castro was driving his car from Chalan Kanoa toward As Lito when he observed smoke coming from the moped driven by a Chinese man on the curve of the hill on Joaquin Doi Road Wednesday between 2pm and 3pm.
Castro said the driver came from As Lito area and was going down the hill to Chalan Kanoa.
He said the driver got down from the moped, which caught fire on the engine side.
Castro said the driver was standing 7 feet from the burning moped so he told him to stay away.
Castro said he then dialed 911, but was told that somebody already called.
The former DPS commissioner said he was thankful that DPW employees Jose Terlaje and Luis Tudela passed by and helped him in directing the traffic flow.
Castro said the accident happened at the curve so it posed danger to motorists.
While waiting for the officers to arrive, Castro directed traffic on one side, while the two DPW employees controlled traffic on the other side to prevent accident.
Police and firefighters later arrived. The cause of fire was unknown. As of Monday, DPS had yet to release information about the incident.
