2 men hurt in vehicle accidents

Police officer Norris Kwon investigates an auto-motorcycle collision while Police Sgt. Anthony Macaranas controls traffic flow along Chalan Pale Arnold in Chalan Laulau late Friday afternoon. Also in the photo are medics from the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services who are preparing to transport the injured motorcyclist to the hospital. (Ferdie de la Torre)

Two men were injured in two separate vehicular accidents along Chalan Pale Arnold in Chalan Laulau and on Beach Road in Susupe late Friday afternoon and night.

In the Chalan Laulau accident, a 38-year-old local resident had swelling above his right eye and abrasions to the right leg. He told police and medics he felt dizzy but refused to be brought to the hospital.

In the Susupe accident, a 67-year-old Japanese national sustained 3-inch lacerations on the crown of his head and had bruising and swelling to the left side of his head.

As of press time yesterday, the Department of Public Safety had yet to release information about the two incidents and who were found at fault.

Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman Derek Gersonde said yesterday that on Friday at 5:04pm, DFEMS received a call from 911 about an auto-motorcycle incident in Chalan Laulau.

Gersonde said medics from the Susupe fire station came upon the injured man, who stated he was heading south along Chalan Pale Arnold Road (Middle Road) when a vehicle that was heading north did a U-turn and came into his lane.

Medics tried to use a cervical collar and spine board on him but he refused. He was later brought to the Commonwealth Health Center’s emergency room. Gersonde said updates on the victim’s treatment and status at CHC should be referred to the CHC information officer.

The accident, which happened in front of Dexter Laundry Services, snarled traffic on the southbound lane for an hour.

In the second accident, DFEFMS received a call Friday at 6:10pm from 911 about an auto-pedestrian accident on Beach Road, Susupe.

DFEMS medics from the Susupe fire station came upon the Japanese man, who was lying on the ground in front of Saipan World Resort.

Medics used a cervical collar and spine board to prevent any further injuries to the victim.

Medics’ assessment showed that the victim was hit on vehicle’s front driver’s side highlights and he went up and over the vehicle. The victim was transported to CHC’s emergency room.

Gersonde said updates on the patient’s treatment and status at CHC should be referred to the CHC information officer.

Meanwhile, DFEMS released yesterday some details about the 40-minute car chase that ended when the car hit an embankment and overturned in Koblerville in the evening last Dec. 9.

Gersonde said at 10:56pm, DFEMS received a call from DPS 911 about a vehicle that overturned.

Medics from the Susupe fire station responded and came upon two injured men.

Medics said the first man, a 31-year-old Chamorro who was the passenger of the vehicle, was handcuffed and seated outside the vehicle.

Upon assessment, Gersonde said, medics found a bump on the back of the passenger’s head.

When the medics’ assessment was ongoing, the passenger was uncooperative with them.

Gersonde said medics saw the second man, a 31-year-old Chamorro man who was the driver.

Gersonde said the driver was handcuffed and lying on the ground outside the vehicle.

Upon assessment, the driver stated he had pain on the back of his right shoulder blade. He also sustained three small cuts on the forehead and a half-inch cut on the left leg.

When he was further asked, the driver allegedly refused to comply with medics.

As both the driver and passenger were not cooperative, both were released back to the custody of police officers, Gersonde said

He said any information regarding the vehicle and or cause of the accident is referred to DPS.

Police earlier disclosed that the driver was Vincent San Nicolas Norita and the passenger was Joe E. Ada.

Police said Norita was arrested on charges of theft of a vehicle, causing accidents, reckless driving, eluding a police officer, and receiving stolen items.

Ada was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.