20 hurt as bus slams into SUV, tree in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - Around 20 passengers were injured when the bus they were riding hit a sport utility vehicle (SUV), clipped the center island, cut into the opposite lane and slammed into a tree along East Avenue in Quezon City yesterday.

Investigator Police Officer 2 Romeo Rangas of the Quezon City Police District Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) said the victims were taken to the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), just across where the accident happened.

Rangas said the bus driver, identified only as “Jamisola,” 30, employed by Safeway Bus Lines, Inc (SBLI), fled the scene shortly after the collision.

Although the driver’s side of the Pajero was crumpled from the impact, Christopher Caina, 30, who was driving, was not injured.

Neil Mariano, 31, conductor of the Safeway bus (TXG-440) bound for Fairview from Baclaran, sat on the curb, visibly dazed after the accident. He told The STAR he was standing by the door when the bus hit the Pajero.

Initial investigation showed the incident happened at around 12:30 p.m. yesterday in front of the EAMC.

Witnesses said the Safeway bus was allegedly racing with another bus when the accident happened.

Caina said he had just dropped off a relative at the EAMC for an eye check-up and was crossing East Avenue to turn left on his way to EDSA when the bus hit. The Pajero spun around and ended up facing the direction of the Elliptical Road.

The unidentified bus sped on while the Safeway bus cut across the opposite lane and almost hit another oncoming Pajero before crashing into a tree on the opposite lane. The bus’ windshield shattered and the bus’ front portion was damaged.

When The STAR asked if the driver was intoxicated with alcohol or had taken drugs, Mariano only stared back.