The Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV) driver in the viral Skyway crash has been released from detention and cleared of liability for the death of the drunk motorcycle rider who attempted to counterflow along the Balintawak portion of the Skyway Stage 3 in Quezon City over the weekend.
On Wednesday, the Quezon City prosecutor’s office dismissed the cases of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property after the family of the motorcycle rider filed an affidavit of desistance against the driver, a 54-year-old man from San Mateo Rizal.
His arrest drew flak from netizens who questioned the 'unjust' arrest of the AUV driver who, as seen in the footage shared by Skyway management, was driving in the right lane and at a normal speed.
“Since there was death in this case, the police will automatically file the case with all the documents and leave the prosecutor to decide what is right on the incident,” said Police Capt. Jun Cornelio Estrellan, head of the PNP-Highway Patrol Group South Luzon Expressway Sub Office, in a radio interview.
Estrellan, citing the QC Prosecutor's Office, added that the Toyota Innova driver has no liability over the incident.
The Skyway management previously said the motorcycle rider entered the ramp at the A. Bonifacio segment in Quezon City. He was then flagged down by traffic enforcers for failure to wear a helmet because his 150cc motorcycle wasn’t allowed on Skyway Stage 3.
However, the rider was moving too fast at 80 kilometers per hour for the enforcers to keep up. 60 kph is the maximum speed along Skyway Stage 3.
Initial investigation by the police showed the rider was intoxicated and did not have a driver’s license at the time of the incident.
He was rushed to a hospital but died 12 hours later.
