By Terence L. Ranis
A 24-year-old police officer died after he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving and crashed into the central island in Port Area, Manila on Monday, March 28.
Manila Police District (MPD) Director Brig. Gen. Leo "Paco" Francisco identified the victim as John Rudolf Cruz, a patrolman assigned with the Aviation Security Group, and a resident of 215 Purok Matias, Talavera in Nueva Ecija.
A Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit (MDTEU) report said the victim was traversing the southbound lane of Mel Lopez Boulevard Anda Circle in Port Area at around 1 a.m. when he lost control of the motorcycle.
Cruz hit the center island of the road and slid on the roadway, subsequently ramming into the gutter of Anda Circle.
Police said the victim was thrown a few meters away due to the impact and landed on the cemented pavement.
Cruz was rushed by a Red Cross ambulance to the Ospital ng Maynila but was declared dead at about 2:30 a.m.