The taxi driver involved in a crash along the Mambaling Tunnel and Flyover has been identified as Mario B. Pelaez, 70, who has been driving a taxi for nearly two decades.
In an interview with Proud Bisaya Bai, Pelaez said he suffered a medical emergency while driving home after visiting a hospital following the childbirth of a relative.
The family later clarified that the newborn’s mother is his niece, whom they consider as their own child due to their close family arrangement.
The family said Pelaez had not slept prior to the trip and still insisted on driving home.
He reportedly stopped to rest briefly but continued driving until he began feeling dizzy.
His vision blurred, and he later lost awareness before the crash occurred.
They also clarified that Pelaez does not drink alcohol.
According to doctors, Pelaez was suffering from extreme fatigue accompanied by loose bowel movement (LBM).
He was initially suspected of a heart attack, but medical findings pointed to overfatigue as the primary cause.
After the incident, Pelaez was assisted by a passing motorist and responders from the Mandaue City Rescue Team, who brought him to the Mandaue City Hospital for treatment.
The family also said the taxi operator, KATS, has not visited Pelaez in the hospital or reached out to check on his condition or the status of the vehicle.
They said they are not seeking financial compensation but expressed hope for at least a call or visit.
Pelaez had reportedly been working long hours for several months, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., to cope with rising fuel costs and meet work-related incentives, including a promised monthly sack of rice, which he said he received only once.
The family also said they were later informed that the taxi unit he was driving had been towed and returned to its owner, while his earnings inside the vehicle and his driver’s license were reported missing.
They are now appealing for assistance for Pelaez as he continues to recover in hospital. (LLQ)
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