One road mishap leads to another

The brother of singer-actress Donna Cruz was injured in a car mishap yesterday after attempting to flee an earlier accident involving a pedestrian in Makati City.

A Ford Lynx Ghia sedan driven by Jomar Cruz Yrastorza, 29, of Pilar Village in Las Piñas City, was at the corner of Makati Avenue and Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue when it sideswiped a commuter who was waiting for a ride at 1:15 a.m.

Inspector Gilbert Loteria of the Makati City police Traffic Enforcement Unit identified the commuter as Reginald Malana, 21, single, a resident of Don Pedro Street, Barangay Poblacion, Makati City.

After hitting Malana, Yrastorza sped off along Gil Puyat Avenue. Witnesses claimed that Yrastorza was fighting with his wife when their car sideswiped Malana.

Bystanders brought the injured Malana to the Ospital ng Maynila for treatment.

Yrastorza later hit the rear of a Honda Civic sedan parked in front of the LC Building. The impact pushed the Civic forward and caused a chain reaction involving three other vehicles.

Gerardo Vallere, the driver of the Civic, and his three passengers were hurt in the smash-up. They were taken to the Makati Medical Center for treatment.

The smash-up also forced Yrastorza to stop as he and his wife were also injured. Both were also taken to the Makati Medical Center for treatment.

Investigation conducted by the Makati-TEU revealed that the Ford Lynx (HVN-476) driven by Yrastorza was registered under the name of his cousin, singer-actress Geneva Cruz, who is also a resident of Pilar Village.

Yrastorza is facing a charge of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries and multiple damage to property. – Marvin Sy