One dead, 5 hurt in jeepney mishap

CEBU, Philippines - One passenger died and five others were injured, two severely, when a jeepney hit the concrete railing of the flyover in Maguikay, Mandaue City early yesterday afternoon while trying to avoid a man who crossed the street.

Wilma Gracia Polloso, 39, of Canduman Housing in Mandaue City, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mandaue City Hospital. She sustained head injuries and on other parts of her body.

Jeppney driver Rodelio Labrador, 32 or Naga, Cebu, said that he was trying to avoid hitting a man, who suddenly crossed the street at the foot of the flyover, resulting to the accident. He was the only person on board the vehicle, who survived the accident unhurt.

His jeepney was bound for Mandaue City from the town of Consolacion. He reportedly swerved hard right resulting the accident.

Seriously injured were 63-year-old Boyd Henry Wilson of Pilit, barangay Kabangkalan, whose nationality is yet to be ascertained, and 56-year-old Robert Enrile.

PO3 Ramil Mendoza, Mandaue City Traffic investigator, said that the vehicle was traveling fast on its way up the flyover.

Mendoza said that Wilson, who suffered severe injuries on his head, was transferred to the Chong Hua Hospital and remained in critical condition early last night.

Enrile, who sat at the front seat, is also in critical condition as he was thrown out of the vehicle through the windshield.

Injured in the accident were Polloso’s children — Hanna, 18 and Beliza Hanse, 14; as well as Howell Ritaja, 25, of Lapu-Lapu City. They sustained minor injuries.

 Paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) took the victims to the hospital.

Labrador immediately gave himself up to the police and is now detained at the Station 1 detention cell while awaiting the filing of charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple serious physical injuries and homicide, which will be filed against him today. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)