By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz

PEDESTRIAN COLLISION. The passenger of a motorcycle who approached a Tesla electric vehicle rolled along the road after being hit by the car in Nuvali, Santa Rosa, Laguna on Sept. 25, 2024. The Land Transportation Office has summoned the driver of the Tesla, who is being investigated for violation of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. (Screen capture of VISOR Facebook video)

MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday summoned the driver of a Tesla electric car who fled after hitting and dragging a motorcycle passenger who approached their vehicle near Nuvali in Santa Rosa, Laguna on Sept. 25.

In a statement on Tuesday, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said a show cause order (SCO) has been issued based on a video posted by motoring news site VISOR on the incident.

In the video, a Yamaha Sight motorcycle stopped ahead of a dark blue Tesla electric sedan along a one-lane road, forcing the Tesla to stop.

One of the passengers of the motorcycle approached the vehicle but it moved and hit the approaching person.

The driver of the motorcycle, who was also approaching on foot, tried to chase the Tesla but it managed to flee the scene.

The video caption posted by VISOR said the Tesla was previously seen cutting off the motorcycle multiple times before the altercation.

“I immediately ordered the verification of this video and the incident was confirmed by a police report that our office obtained from the Santa Rosa Component City Police Station,” Mendoza said.

In the SCO signed by LTO-Calabarzon Director Elmer Decena, it said the police had established that the vehicle owner was driving when the incident happened.

The driver will be investigated for violation of Article V, Section 48 of the Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

It gave the Tesla driver five days to submit his explanation as to why no disciplinary action should be taken against him. (PNA)