Cameraman injured while covering vehicle accident

MANILA, Philippines - A cameraman of a government-run television station was seriously injured after he was bumped by a speeding taxi while covering a vehicular accident early yesterday in Quezon City.

Antonio “Tony” Ginturo, 45, married, employee of television station RPN9 and resident of 3 Casanova drive, Barangay Culiat was taken to the East Avenue Medical Center where he is now under observation.

Initial reports showed Ginturo sustained lacerations in the face and fractured bones in the lower half of the body.

PO3 Andy Sotto of Traffic Sector 6 of the Quezon City police said charges of reckless imprudence resulting to serious physical injuries and damage to property against Roel Labarete, 46, married, of Concepcion Uno, Marikina City will be filed.

Records showed the bumping incident occurred at around 3 a.m. yesterday while Ginturo was setting up for a shot of a dumptruck that slammed into a footbridge along Mindanao Avenue.

The accident resulted to a traffic jam in the area as pedestrians and curious motorists slowed down to look.

The truck’s loader or dump box rose unnoticed by the driver and slammed into the pedestrian bridge as it passed under it.

Ginturo was setting up for a footage when Labarete, driving a Dollar Taxi cab (TXL-413), came speeding by and hit the cameraman.

Co-workers in the media covering the same event rushed the injured Ginturo to the nearest hospital.

Labarete said he was looking at the dumptruck when he felt a thud as he drove by. He told police he didn’t notice Ginturo working on the middle of the road.

The incident involving the dumptruck that slammed on the footbridge was taken over by the Metro Manila Development Authority.