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Sportswriter Perez survives bus-car collision
Saipan Tribune sportswriter Jonathan Perez survived a serious vehicular accident when a tourist bus rammed his 2005 Mazda MPV van along Chalan Pale Arnold traffic lights in front of Bank of Hawaii in Garapan in the afternoon of July 31.
Traffic officer Juan Mendiola conducts investigation at the scene while Commonwealth Utilities Corp. information officer Brad Ruszala calls Saipan Tribune about a vehicular accident that injured sports writer Jonathan Perez at the intersection of Chalan Pale Arnold (Middle Road) near Bank of Hawaii in Garapan on Friday afternoon. Also in the photo is a staff of a towing company. (Ferdie De La Torre)
Perez, 38, suffered a fractured left clavicle and bruises on the left side of his face. He was discharged from the Commonwealth Health Center on Tuesday.
The driver, Fernando Estela, of Tasi Tours, was issued traffic citations for failure to yield and other violation, Saipan Tribune learned.
The Department of Public Safety has yet to release information to the media about the accident due to computer problems.
Saipan Tribune gathered that Perez was driving his Mazda MPV van at the traffic light intersection on his way to the southbound lane of Chalan Pale Arnold coming from Bank of Hawaii when a northbound lane tour bus struck the driver side of the van.
The bus dragged the van, causing it to spin and fall into a ditch about four feet deep on the shoulder of the road. Medics arrived and brought Perez to the hospital.
Traffic investigators interviewed the bus driver and later gave him citations. The wrecked van was towed. The bus had minor damage on the front portion.
