MANILA, Philippines - Twenty people were injured after a bus, whose driver was allegedly racing with another bus, rammed into the supporting column of a flyover along the northbound lane of the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Makati City before dawn yesterday.
Senior Police Officer 1 Christopher Millares, of Makati Police Traffic Management Unit, said the Mega Bus Line unit (TYS-471) driven by Fredwaldy Jueves, 40, of Daet, Camarines Norte, was racing with another bus along EDSA at around 3:20 a.m., overtook it and hit first a taxi before crashing into the flyover column.
One of the bus passengers said Jueves lost control of the steering wheel when he overtook the other bus. Police are hunting down Jueves who, despite being injured, escaped after the incident. Jueves faces reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and damage to properties.
Police identified the injured passengers as Lean Capatian, 4; Cuela Capatian, 60, Hedgel Mistual, 54; Salina Laureano, 47; Lilia Gitalado, 58; Jesus Asinero, 69; Remedios Asinero, 72; John Fulga, 18; Pricilla Fulga, 54; Joan Fulga, 15; Mark Allen Fulga, 5; Elino Ballunico Sr., 51; his son Ellino Jr., 12; Arnel Neri, 34; Oceta Ballucino, 45; Joseph Chrismar Asenero, 16; Gelly Getilado, 18; Christopher Manuel and Panchito Rosete, 42, the driver of the Kia Rio taxi (TYS-183) that was hit by Jueves’ bus.
Rosete was making a left turn along Kalayaan in EDSA when Jueves’ bus hit the taxi he was driving.
The rescue team of the Makati City government rushed all the victims to the Ospital ng Makati for treatment.
The victims told investigators that the Mega Bus Line unit driven by Jueves came from Samar province and was heading for its terminal in Cubao, Quezon City when it figured in the accident.
Police said five of the 20 victims suffered serious injuries in the neck, head and back.
Chief Inspector Jaime Santos, chief of the Makati Police Station Traffic Management Unit, ordered the impounding of the damaged Mega Bus Line unit.