Bus rams MRT post in Makati; 40 hurt

Forty people were hurt with one in serious condition after a passenger bus rammed into a post of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) in Magallanes, Makati City yesterday.

Prober PO3 Mardy Domingo said 12 of the victims, including the one in serious condition, were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati while the 28 others were taken to the Makati Medical Center.

Police said a Lippad Transit bus with license plates NYV-408 was travelling at high speed on the northbound lane of EDSA at around 12:25 p.m. when the driver lost control after the vehicle developed engine trouble. The bus was enroute to Cubao, Quezon City from Pasay City.

Domingo said the impact was so strong that almost a third of the bus was damaged. When the driver lost control, he tried to slow down but failed and rammed into the MRT post instead.

Operatives of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority — Traffic Enforcement Group immediately responded and attended to the injured passengers, police said.

Police failed to identify mostly of the victims because most of them immediately went home after treatment of minor injuries. Medical personnel identified the victim in serious condition as Romeo Tan, 48. His legs could be amputated, attending doctors said.