MANILA — The truck driver allegedly involved in the fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of 26-year-old motorcycle rider Neri Joy Matias at the Delpan Flyover in Manila has been arrested, according to the latest report from ABS-CBN News published Tuesday, September 15.
The development marks a major turn in a case that drew public attention after the victim’s family appealed for help in identifying the vehicle involved in the deadly crash.
The incident happened along the northbound portion of the Delpan Flyover on Mel Lopez Boulevard in Manila. Earlier reports identified Matias as a sales associate from Navotas who was on her way home when her motorcycle was allegedly sideswiped by a trailer truck.
According to the Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit’s investigation, the impact caused Matias to fall from her motorcycle. She was subsequently run over by the truck’s rear tires and suffered fatal injuries.
She was declared dead at the scene.
CCTV trail helped identify the truck
The investigation gained momentum after police and witnesses provided information about the vehicle involved.
Journal News Online reported that authorities conducted CCTV backtracking and traced a green tractor head bearing plate number NEI-3261. Investigators reportedly followed the vehicle’s movements through CCTV footage from several locations in Manila.
The vehicle was eventually traced to Boxtrans Systems Incorporation, with investigators identifying the driver assigned to it at the time of the incident as Jhonremond Laorden, 34.
Earlier reporting by GMA News also said police were able to locate the truck driver with the help of a motorcycle rider who came forward with information.
At the time, the driver reportedly told authorities that he did not realize that he had struck the motorcycle and continued driving because he allegedly did not notice what had happened.
Family turned to social media for answers
The case gained wider attention after Matias’ relatives posted about the incident online.
GMA News reported that the family had struggled to obtain CCTV footage from the immediate area of the crash and turned to social media in hopes that witnesses or people with relevant footage could provide information.
The family’s appeal was ultimately followed by information that helped investigators identify the truck.
For Matias’ relatives, however, identifying the driver was only the beginning. They repeatedly called for accountability and justice following the death of their loved one.
Police said the case was not simply left unresolved
Earlier reports showed that authorities had already identified and located the driver in July.
At that stage, however, police said an immediate warrantless arrest was no longer possible because the applicable period for such an arrest had already passed. The driver was instead subjected to investigation and documentation while authorities pursued the appropriate legal process.
Authorities subsequently filed complaints for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property, according to GMA News.
ABS-CBN’s latest September 15 report now confirms that the suspect has been arrested by the Malate Police Station, representing a significant new development in the case.
Previous accident also under scrutiny
The case also raised additional questions after police reportedly discovered that the truck driver had allegedly been involved in another previous accident that also resulted in a death.
Manila Police District Vehicle Traffic Investigation Section chief Police Captain Joel Aquino said investigators also reviewed CCTV footage showing the truck apparently moving quickly and allegedly passing through stoplights before and after the incident.
That information could become an important part of the continuing investigation, although allegations remain subject to due process and the courts.
What happens next?
With the suspect now reported arrested, attention will shift to the legal proceedings and the evidence that prosecutors and investigators will present.
The case is likely to focus on the circumstances surrounding the collision, the truck’s movements captured on CCTV, witness accounts, the driver’s actions after the crash, and the results of the police investigation.
The death of Neri Joy Matias has also renewed concerns about road safety in Manila, particularly involving motorcycles and large commercial trucks sharing heavily traveled urban roads.
For the victim’s family, the latest arrest represents another step toward the accountability they have been seeking since the fatal crash.
But with the suspect now in custody, the next question is whether the evidence gathered by investigators will be enough to establish criminal liability in court.
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