Jeepney rips through flea market: 3 killed, 5 hurt

Three persons were killed when a passenger jeepney lost its brakes on a downhill road in Payatas, Quezon City Saturday night.

Five other persons were also injured after the jeepney driven by Wilfredo Bisera, 36, crashed into stalls at a flea market at the end of the road.

Senior Police Officer 1 Marcelo Sabado of the Quezon City Police District-Traffic Sector 5 identified the fatalities as Menita Naguit, 42, and her four-year-old daughter Cassandra and Grace Morfe, 28.

Naguit was killed on the spot after the jeepney reportedly ran over her head, Sabado said in an interview.

Naguit’s husband, Roel, who was also injured, was still at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) as of yesterday, according to Sabado.

Sabado identified the other injured victims as Morfe’s sister, Jessa and their American friend, Matthew Winston; and Eva Peñaranda and daughter Pamela. All of them were brought to the EAMC. “Those who were injured are now out of danger,” he said.

According to Sabado, the accident happened at around 7:30 p.m. along Lupang Pangako Road in Barangay Payatas-B. Bisera was driving his passenger jeepney (NVM-960) plying the Litex Road-Lupang Pangako Road route when he suddenly lost his brakes while on the downhill road.

Sabado said he believes Bisera was not recklessly driving at the time the incident happened as his wife and daughter were with him in the jeepney, apart from his nine passengers.

He said the jeepney only stopped running after ramming the stalls at the flea market and crashing into a concrete house. None of Bisera’s nine passengers were injured.

However, the jeepney also bumped into several other vehicles, including a tricycle and a truck along the way.

Sabado said charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property will be filed against Bisera. – Reinir Padua