Democrat Party chair, 3 others hurt in smashup

Democrat Party chair Gabriel Babauta and three other men were injured in a car collision that occurred mid-afternoon yesterday along Puerto Rico on Middle Road.

Former Department of Public Safety spokesman Eric David, who was at the scene of the accident, said that based on the initial, unofficial police report, Babauta was driving along Middle Road and was turning toward the Charlie Dock intersection when a southbound silver Toyota Camry suddenly slammed into his car.

Babauta’s Hyundai maroon car, with plate number ABW 547, was slammed off course, ending up facing the southbound outer lane. The front portion of Babauta’s car was a total wreck, with its airbag deployed. The other car, a silver Toyota Camry, with plate number ADT 300, was also a total wreck. It had three male passengers, whose identities have yet to be released by police.

David said the three passengers in the Camry were all seriously injured. The four were brought to the Commonwealth Health Center for immediate treatment. Their status was not immediately available as of press time.

David said that Babauta was at the inner lane and was already turning toward the Charlie Dock intersection but the other car reportedly ignored this and drove ahead despite Babauta’s obvious turn.

The accident happened around 2:24pm yesterday. As of 2:35pm the passengers and driver inside the Camry were still inside the car as police waited for the ambulance. Three ambulance vans arrived at the scene soon after.

Babauta was hauled up to the grasses along the sidewalk and police medics immediately attended to his injuries.

Workers at Saipan Stevedore said they did not witness the actual accident but they heard a loud bang and that’s when they saw the two cars, with oil and gas spilling on the road and smoke coming out of the hoods.

Lou Tian, Babauta’s aunt, was driving along the Middle Road when she recognized her nephew’s car. Tian said she immediately pulled over to the roadside and searched for her nephew, whom she found lying on the sidewalk. She said Babauta was complaining of pain in his stomach and that he could barely speak. Tian said she heard that the three passengers in the silver car were more critical than his nephew.

David said the police immediately summoned the DPS Traffic Investigation Unit to investigate the incident. He said the identities of the three male passengers in the Toyota Camry would be released today.

The accident slowed traffic along Middle Road.