Woman killed after car slams into pole

Photo shows the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. power pole near the New Family Discount Market along Dandan Road, where a car slammed into it, killing a 21-year-old woman who was the driver of the car early yesterday morning. The impact caused a power outage in the area. Seen in the photo are tools used by Docomo Pacific crew in fixing their power supply box and meter base at the pole that were damaged in the accident. (Ferdie de la Torre)

A 21-year-old woman was killed when a car she was driving along Dandan Road reportedly skidded sideways, ran off the road, and slammed into a power pole near the Family Discount Market in Dandan early yesterday morning.

The impact of the car, a four-door beige Hyundai Accent, hitting the power pole was so strong that it caused a power outage in the area.

The victim, Jessa Quila, was pronounced dead by Dr. Nick Villalon at the Commonwealth Health Center at 4:57am, according to the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

DFEMS spokesperson Derek Gersonde said that Quila had been trapped inside the car and that DFEMS rescue personnel had to extricate her from the wrecked vehicle.

Department of Public Safety spokesperson Jacqueline Rae Shepard said that speed and weather conditions were contributing factors and that no alcohol was detected at the time of the accident.

Shepard said traffic investigators said the road was wet at the time.

Gersonde said DFEMS received a call from DPS 911 about an accident near the Family Discount Market at 4:10am.

Upon arriving at the scene at 4:21am, DFEMS personnel came upon a sedan with a woman, later identified as Quila, trapped inside.

DFEMS rescue team extricated Quila and emergency medical technicians used a cervical collar and spine board to prevent any further injuries before transporting her to CHC’s emergency room. While en route to the hospital, Quila was found not breathing and had no pulse.

Emergency medical technicians performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on Quila on their way to CHC. Upon arriving at CHC’s emergency room, emergency medical technicians continued CPR until Villalon pronounced the victim dead.

According police officers at the scene, the car was heading west when it went off the road and slammed into the power pole.

Shepard said the vehicle was traveling south when it lost control at the slight curve after Dandan Middle School.

Shepard said this caused the vehicle to skid sideways for approximately 70 feet before slamming into the power pole. It was the driver’s side of the vehicle that hit the pole.

“The cause of the accident is still under investigation,” she said.

Last Sunday morning, a speeding pickup truck driven by a male teenager who was allegedly intoxicated struck and killed a heavily drunk male pedestrian along Chalan Pale Arnold Road in front of the Commonwealth Health Center in Garapan. The pedestrian sustained multiple injuries. No other descriptions were given about the victim.

The driver, 18-year-old Alvin Limes Pua, and his female passenger, were treated at CHC for injuries. Pua was later arrested after being found with alcohol in his blood over the legal limit. He was also allegedly found speeding and unlicensed at the time of the crash.

Last April 1, a 38-year-old man was struck and killed during a hit-and-run incident involving a sports utility vehicle at the intersection of Chalan Pale Arnold Road and As Mahetog near the Saipan Ice and Water Co.

The victim, a local Chinese, sustained several injuries and was pronounced dead by an attending physician at CHC.

David Desebel Kapileo, 50, the alleged driver of the SUV, was located and arrested last Friday on charges of homicide by vehicle, violating the speed limit, reckless driving, and driving while under the influence of alcohol. He is still in detention after failing to post $100,000 cash bail.

In June 2017, a 19-year-old Korean female was killed when a vehicle she was driving slammed into a traffic light pole and resulted in fire at the corner of Monsignor Guerrero Road and Tun Antonio Apa Road near the Northern Marianas College in As Terlaje.