Nine hurt as bus rams resto in Pasay

Nine persons were hurt after a wayward passenger bus rammed a popular restaurant branch filled with early morning patrons yesterday along the EDSA extension in Pasay City.

Those hurt were passengers of an Admiral Transport Inc. bus (PYG-825) and another car which the bus hit. They were identified as Ethel Francisco, 25; Ariel Policarpio, 41; Perlito Betales, 49; Trinidad Betales, 66; Sumatra Audino, 50; Alfredo Mando, 58; Marijane Ableza, 27; Lea Martinez, 26; and Arlene Tanon, 50.

Investigator PO3 Alexander Maravilla said the bus first hit a Nissan Cefiro (CAY-897) at around 6 a.m. at the intersection of EDSA Extension and Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard before slamming into the glass wall of the Chowking Restaurant located at a Petron service center compound.

Police said the car was turning left when the bus, which allegedly beat a red light from the opposite direction, bumped its right side.

The car was being driven by one Mario Manic.The bus rammed the restaurant after its driver, identified as Rodino Opsar, of 6 Diamond Drive, Diamond Village, Zabarte Extension, Novaliches, Quezon City, lost control.

Investigator said Opsar immediately fled on foot and abandoned the bus after the accident. Eight passengers of the bus sustained minor head injuries.Policarpio, the niece of the car’s driver, sustained head injuries as well, police said.

Maravilla said follow up operations on the case would be conducted including coordination with the bus company for the location and arrest of the driver.

"Actually, it was the company that provided us the name and address of the driver," Maravilla said.