Speeding bus driver causes EDSA mishap

A passenger bus, whose driver was reportedly racing against another bus driver, overturned along the Elliptical Road in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Because of the incident, the five passengers in the bus sustained minor injuries and were brought to the nearby East Avenue Medical Center.

Case investigator Police Officer 2 Renato Sunga said the five passengers sustained only bruises and were immediately released by the hospital.

Their expenses were shouldered by the management of Safeway Bus, Sunga said. The bus driver and conductor were not hurt.

As of noon yesterday, the police have yet to receive a formal complaint from any of the passengers against bus driver Leonito Desaliza. Sunga said Desaliza could face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries.

In an interview, Sunga said the incident happened at around 4 a.m. just as the Cubao-bound passenger bus (TXK-910) was turning right from Commonwealth Avenue on to Elliptical Road.

“Because of its speed as it turned right to Elliptical Road, the vehicle lost its balance and turned to its left side,” Sunga told reporters.

Inspector Erlito Renegin, commander of the Quezon City Police District’s Traffic Sector3, said Desaliza was reportedly racing against another bus driver before the incident happened.

Renegin said the time of the accident, 4 a.m. “covers what are considered to be rush hours among bus drivers. They are trying to beat other bus drivers in reaching the bus terminals where more passengers are waiting to be picked up.” – Reinir Padua