Vandolph, 4 others hurt as SUV plunges into pit

Vandolph Quizon, son of comedy king Dolphy, was hurt when the vehicle he was driving fell into an excavation at the construction site of a new underpass at the corner of Katipunan Avenue and Boni Serrano Avenue in Quezon City early yesterday.

Also suffering injuries were his four passengers and a rescue worker who was hurt during the retrieval of the wrecked vehicle.

The accident comes three years after the former child actor was almost killed in a road mishap in Pangasinan.

Quizon, 20, was with his girlfriend Jennifer Soliman, 19, his nephew Rocky Quizon, 22, and friends Auxellano Soliman and Allan Araza, 31, on his maroon Ford Expedition (UTP-788) along Katipunan Avenue headed toward White Plains Subdivision when the vehicle bumped a car at around 3:40 a.m.

SPO4 Reynaldo Gonzales of Central Police District-Traffic Sector 3 said the Expedition hit the rear of a gray Honda Civic (WAY-849) being driven by a certain Vincent Adil, 20, of Filinvest.

"After hitting the car, Vandolph’s vehicle swerved to the left then rammed and plowed through the concrete barriers at the construction site before falling into the pit, which was filled with rainwater," Gonzales said.

Quizon and his companion’s sustained minor injuries and were confined to the nearby Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC).

A nurse at the hospital told The Star that all five sustained minor bruises in various parts of their body. He also said that they later "went HAMA (Home Against Medical Advice)."

A member of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority rescue team identified as Orlando Sahun was hurt when the cable of a crane that was being used to retrieve the Expedition was disengaged and hit him in the face. Staff at the QMCC said the worker may have to undergo minor surgery.

Investigators said they have yet to get statements from Quizon and his companions.

In late 2001, the actor figured in a near fatal accident in Urdaneta, Pangasinan when he lost control of his Ford F-150 pickup on the way to Manila from Baguio.

He was in a coma for some time as a result of the accident. His girlfriend Ishi Raquiza was killed.