Legal woes piling up for van driver in Kennon Road car chase

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said Tuesday it would file an additional case of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property against the 31-year-old van driver who led agency personnel in a high-speed car chase along the winding Kennon Road in northern Luzon.

This developed after the driver allegedly hit an LTO vehicle as he fled from the agency's enforcers along Kennon Road on Sunday afternoon. 

The driver, who allegedly drove without a license during the incident, already faces charges of resistance and disobedience to authority. The additional case was set to be filed today, February 3.

Cellphone video recorded by LTO personnel captured the van speeding away as enforcers attempted to apprehend the driver.

According to Department of Transportation–Cordillera (DOTr-CAR) Regional Director Glenn Dumlao, the incident began after a concerned motorcycle rider reported two vans allegedly engaging in dangerous side-by-side driving while descending from Baguio City.

Instead of stopping when flagged down, the driver reportedly continued driving, counterflowing and recklessly confronting vehicles traveling uphill toward Baguio.

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said the driver's license had already been confiscated in 2024 for operating a colorum vehicle. 

Despite this, the driver allegedly repeated the offense and attempted to evade authorities while carrying eight passengers, one of whom was a minor.

Lacanilao stressed that the driver's actions posed extreme danger, especially given the narrow and winding roads of Kennon Road, where a serious accident could have occurred.

Aside from the criminal charges and the revocation of the driver's license, the LTO chief said he will recommend a lifetime ban on the driver from obtaining a license. — VDV, GMA Integrated News