I didn’t sleep well last night.
I was quite restless.
Couldn’t get something out of my mind as I laid in bed trying to get some rest.
Yesterday morning, some friends gathered here at the house to make an out of town trip. We had all been invited to Father Franco’s house in Buda to share a lunch with him. Going to Father Franco’s place is always a joy. It’s peaceful, quiet, beautiful scenery, good company, good food. It’s like a day of absolute pleasure.
Yesterday, though, tragedy struck on the way, and we witnessed it. Thankfully, all of us making the trip were safe, though. We had a large group making the trip, and we took two vehicles. I was driving the lead vehicle, because Feyma and I were the only ones in the group who knew where Father Franco’s place was, and the other vehicle was following us. At one point in the trip, we were headed down a rather steep hill. There was also a line of traffic coming up the hill, maybe 150 meters in ahead of us. It was on a good road, not some dirt road that was in need of repair.
As I watched the road ahead, suddenly there was a motorcycle coming up the hill, approaching us, and it went out of control. I couldn’t really see what caused the motorcycle to lose control, but suddenly it was flipping over doing cartwheels and coming toward us. The motorcycle and it’s passengers flipped over several times, and ended up on the shoulder at the other side of the road. Within only 1 to 2 seconds after the accident, we were there. I pulled to the side of the road to see if we could do anything to help, and check the condition of the riders. It turned out that there was a driver of the motorcycle, a man in his 30’s I would guess, and one passenger – the mother of the driver. The driver appeared to be unhurt, but the mother was seriously injured. She laid beside the highway, semi-conscience with blood pouring out from her ears, from her eye sockets, her nose and her mouth. She was obviously bleeding in her brain. When she breathed, there was a gurgling sound, I would guess she had blood in her lungs.
Feyma immediately grabbed her cellphone and called 911. Police were on the scene in less than 5 minutes, I would say. People started gathering at the scene. The lady had been wearing a helmet, but a very cheap one. There was no neck strap, and the helmet had simply fallen off her head while the bike was tumbling on the street.
After the police arrived, I gathered our group and told them all that we should be going. None of us were doctors or had any expertise that could be of assistance. There were a lot of people there, and with the police on scene, we had done all that we could do. Honestly, as foreigners, I worried that we might be blamed for the accident, and that is why I wanted to leave quickly. Although we had in no way caused the accident, we made easy targets for somebody to blame. We had “pockets full of money,” or so people would think, and I have heard so many incidents where accidents were blamed on foreigners if it was convenient. After we left, we all agreed that the most prudent thing for us to have done was to leave after we got assistance to the scene.
The thing that is still haunting me is that I feel pretty sure that the lady died. If she didn’t die, she was left in very serious condition. You don’t bleed out of all the cavities of your head without being critical, or at least that’s what I think.
When we got to Father’s place, we had him say a prayer for the lady.
Whatever the outcome for her, I hope that she is in peace.
Bob, my heart skipped a beat when I read your title. I think that it was still very benevolent of you to stop and try to help.
Hi Cathy – Stopping to help is something that anybody would have done, I think. I only wish we could have actually done something that would have helped. About the only real thing we did was call for help.
Hi BOB/Feyma,
You guys are such a good samaritan!keep it up…
Hi NENG – Thank you. We weren't trying to be good Samaritans – just trying to do the right thing.
Bob Marlou tells me that she most likely would be taken to Davao for care. Marlou also said that if she were bleeding from all of her head orifices she was in critical condition and too much time would elapse before she got care. Marlou worked for years in the ER at Davao Doctors and saw these accidents on a regular basis. She says that there is nothing more that you could have done and you did all that you could under the circumstances. I am thankful that the motor cycle did not hit your car for obvious reason that you alluded to. Marlou has seen the ambulance services here and wishes that they had that type of equipment there. I thought that they did but according to her they don't. For all of us and others we are glad that your family and friends are all ok. Life is fleeting and we should all enjoy each moment and each day to its fullest-we never know. Ron
when i was doing my tiny sideline in Davao I purchased a hardhat, and a REAL fire extinguisher from the hardware store at SM mall. I would like to stress to all expats the necessity of owning their own personal extinguisher. Filipino-built structures tend to be firetraps! Also, you should run through a few practice sessions of putting out a fire with it. "you will fight the way you have trained". Davao City has two or 3 fire-extinguisher specialty stores who can properly recharge them after use. SO don't just buy one (keep it at your bedside) – learn how to use it properly by practicing with it. The hardhat is needed to protect you while you're exiting the building in a fire emergency.
Hi Ron LaFleur – Actually, the accident occurred while we were still in town. It was on the Diversion Road, in the old dump area. Regarding the ambulances here, they basically are just vans with no equipment. Just a mode of transportation and nothing else. I am sure that Marlou has seen more than her share of accident victims over her years of nursing here! Seeing that one yesterday was enough for me. I hope I won't see any more.
Hi Alan Mark – Good tips on the fire extinguishers.
Alan Mark,
I would love to have made and market removable bars for the bedroom windows. I do not know if home owners would buy them, but it scares me seeing welded security bars on the windows. If there is a fire outside a bedroom door, there is no escape.
I know of ways to make them that are not too dificult to pop out and would give residents a second form of egrees.
Hi Bob and Feyma, yeah, we were also shocked, when we arrived the place. As you know, we where a minute behind you guys. Good thing, that the police car was able to take the lady to the hospital. We talked to my brother-in-law (who was one of the officers). He also got shocked. It was just an incident, that the police car passed there 9ebing on the way to Digos City). Even we had a wonderful stay at Father Franco's place, we felt the same then you and Feyma. We hope and pray that this lady will survive and be in stable condition.
Hi Klaus – Yes, it was indeed shocking! I'm just glad that nobody in our caravan was affected by the incident!
A pity that your motives were so good and yet your staying there could instigate a blame game. Sucha paradox having a country filled with good hearts smiling faces can easily turn for the almighty peso. If you think that is strange you should be aware there is an unwritten rule with certain bus companies that if they hit someone but don't kill them, they are instructed to run them over again. You see, it only cost 10,000 to settle on a death while hospital bills can amount to hundreds of thousands if not millions. Accordingly, if you as a white person were to hit someone you should not stop especially if there are many people around. You could very well be lynched. Instead you should report to the next barabgay to take responsibility.
Hi Corey – It is my understanding that in the event of a death, the cost to settle it is P50k. I know a man who is a bus driver, and he told me about 15 years ago the same thing about the instructions they get. If you hit somebody, back up and make sure that the person is dead. It's a terrible thing, but in my knowledge, that indeed is true.
Bob – I hear Duterte has a resort in Buda. Have you been there? Also hear the area is known for grapes, strawberies and beautiful flowers
Hi Corey – It's actually Mayor Duterte's Mom that has a place in Buda. I have seen the place, but never been in before. I hear that she's a lovely lady, though.
Strawberries are readily available along the roadside, as are all varieties of flowers. Grapes are grown in the area, but are hard to find though.
I live spending time in Buda, and also just as you pass Buda you enter Bukidnon Province, which is another favorite of mine.
Hi Bob,
Sorry to hear of the lady's accident. a relevant question though …
Say you had been involved and perhaps it was even your fault would your car insurance have covered the other parties hospital bills and other claims ?
Scott
That is so awful! I feel so sorry for the man whose mother was most likely killed while riding on his motorcycle. It is good that you stopped. It also sounds like there were a lot of witnesses who would have agreed that you were not involved, but only stopped to help, but staying wouldn't have served any useful purpose. A very sobering thing to witness.
Hi Scott – Things don't work the way they do in the States. Your insurance MAY pay the medical bills at some point, but somebody has to pay NOW, or the hospital won't treat the injured party. Hospitals here don't send you a bill, you pay up front for services in most cases. Also, if you were to be accused of having been responsible for the injury, the victim or the family of the victim will start making demands. Accidents like this would not just be a matter of paying the bills, but you could be charged with homicide. Thus, the family will start demanding money from you – cash now. The insurance company wouldn't pay that kind of thing.
Hi AmericanLola – Actually, when we stopped, there were no others who stopped at the scene. The crowd that gathered were all people who did not witness the event. So, if the victim or the son would have pointed the finger at us, it would have been their word against ours. I didn't want to be in that situation. But, we did do all that we could do, and stayed there until Police were on the scene. It is still something that is in my mine, even a day and a half later.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your reply, we all feel sorry about the accident and feel for the unfortunate mother and son.
However your information about the insurance well as the legal implications and the money side of things is just the sort of information that a Rookie Expat needs to know prior to such an accident happening to them. This sort of information is precisely why I hang out on your blog.
Scott
My prayers to the accident victims and their families. You and Feyma are to be commended for your kindness.
Hello BOb – i felt sorry for the lady….
You did the right thing… I hope everybody came back to Davao safely.
GIve my regards to Feyma.
Hi Scott – I'm glad that the info was helpful to you.
Hi bebot – Thank you, I am sure that the family appreciates your prayers.
Hi marygrace – I feel the same!
Hi Bob – I was also a witness of a tragedy (car accident) where 2 person died before the emergency doctor's arrived. It was happened at the superhighway with 4 lanes. We were the second one who stopped with a full brake as the accident occured. We were all lucky enough that the succeding autos were also able to react timely. Our distance to the victims maybe just only 15 meters away. I was totally shocked as I have seen two young person sitting in front of the steering wheel, their faces almost full of blood. The car looked like a piece of scrap no more front and back side anymore although it was a big lemosine. Broken pieces were scattered around and the smoke started going up. Thanks that truck drivers were having fire extinguisher and also bringing their tools trying to help the victims to let them free.But they were helpless since the only way was to cut their legs. I saw a man trying to talk the victims since their was still alive while waiting the emergency doctor. Maybe it took about 10 minutes before the doctor came but for me seems it took a lot of hours. The help was too late already. But the helper impressed me that even in a horror situation they are still strong enough to help. It took more than three hours before we were allowed to go. It was hapenned for how many years ago already but the scene of the accident is still fresh in front of my eyes. Like you Bob I hope also that I won't see anymore such tragody.
Hi Luz – I have witnessed more than my share of traffic accidents over the years. When I was 17 years old my sister was killed in a traffic accident, and I happened upon the accident just a few minutes after it happened. It is really a sad thing to see things like this. 😥
Hey Bob,
I just saw your message about the accident. I"ve been a registered nurse for 14 yrs, currently working in a neuro- medical surgical ward and I can tell you that those types of injuries have a low chance of survival. With the bleeding coming out of the ears, means that the person has a cranial fracture. Most of the time, patients go into coma then die. Time is of the essence, she probably had about a 30 minute window for surgeons to drill a hole in her skull to alleviate the pressure that it is pressing on the brain. There is just a little space that separates the brain it's linings and the skull. Even if the pressure was relieved the obvious bleeding inside the brain which was manifested by blood coming out of the ears means that her best prognosis would be to retain consciousness but probably with paralysis to one side of the body. Quality of life will not be the same, since the tricycle rolled a few times, without seatbelts you have to add the possibilities of spine and neck fracutres which also could paralize and kill.
Now about the gurggling sound you heard, that is probably a hemothorax which is bleeding in the chest wall and the lungs, the trauma probably broke one of her ribs as it punctured a lung causing bleeding into the lung cavity. This is once again an emergency where you only have a few minutes to spare. Once the blood fills up in the lungs (takes seconds only), 2 things happen: 1) there's no exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide which results in no oxygen will be delivered to the brain (best scenario/brain dead and in a respirator.) 2) The lungs fills up with blood which will press against the heart and eventually stop it from pumping. Even in the most sophisticated medically equipped ambulances here in San Fran. Paramedics will probably have to be on site within 5 minutes. I Don't agree from one of your writters to ignore the accident and just go to the nearest barangay and report it. You really don't know the extent of MVA's until you're at the scene. It could be as simple as putting direct pressure using your shirt to a bleeding wound that could save a life. In your situation, there's really little that you could have done. If I was in your place, there would also be little that I could do for that person. What she needed was an airlift to the nearest trauma center and be in the OR within 15-20minutes. Sorry for the long and late response…..
Hi Greg from San francisco – Thanks for stopping by and giving some good information there. I never found out what happened to the lady, but I fear that it was not good.