Injured Aussie, BGC residents demand safer streets for pedestrians

2nd avenue and 30th street at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) where Coote was hit from a car crash accident  (Photo courtesy of Foursquare)

MANILA – Australian Jacinta Coote, along with her husband Douglas and about 200 fellow Bonifacio Global City (BGC) residents, held a ‘family walk’ on Friday afternoon, demanding drivers to observe street rules and to consider the pedestrians’ safety in the community.

“Every driver should think: ‘Okay, I will drive carefully today. That’s all I have to do.’ You don’t have to wait for the government to pass laws,” Coote said.

The 34-year-old mother was involved in a car crash accident at 11:15 a.m. on May 12 in the intersection of 2nd avenue and 30th street wherein two SUVs collided, hitting her and nearly killing her and the baby in her womb.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Coote questioned ‘what was so important that they (the motorists) were in such a hurry.’

The drivers were already identified as Rolando Manese, who hit Coote, and Anne Allison Soriano, whose vehicle rammed Manese.’ Both motorists have not yet apologized to the victim and her family.

A month after the incident, Coote has been recovering from her injuries and complications which included facial wounds and internal hemorrhaging near the womb. Unfortunately, half of her head was still numb and screws and titanium plates were implanted in her face.

She also could not taste, smell or move her right arm.

Knowing the consequences of the accident and not wanting it to reoccur, Coote and her husband rallied with fellow residents in BGC, a day after she was discharged from the hospital.

Coote’s friend T.Nguyen organized the family march.

“We need to teach the importance of road rules and pedestrian safety. It’s a mindset that we need to [instill]; the behavior, the culture,” T.Nguyen said.

The rally started at Burgos Circle and continued to the place of the incident. It was finished in less than an hour.

Meanwhile, Coote’s case against Manese and Soriano is still ongoing.