Bus hits bike; 1 dead, 1 hurt

MANILA, Philippines - A security guard riding his bicycle to work was killed after a bus trying to beat the red light slammed into him as he crossed a busy intersection where road repairs are currently underway in Caloocan City yesterday.

City Traffic Enforcement Unit (CTEU) chief Senior Inspector Gaylord Tamayo said Benedict de Mesa, 23, suffered severe head injuries after falling head first on the pavement. He was declared dead on arrival at the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center.

De Mesa’s neighbor and fellow security guard, Margie Brinzuela, 21, asked for a ride on his bike and was seated between the bicycle seat and the handlebars when they were hit by the bus. She was taken by city hall rescue workers to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila for still undetermined injuries.

Lawmen arrested Joanna Jesh Transport Corp. bus driver Teodulfo Ceniza Jr., 41.

Traffic reports showed the victims were traveling towards Rizal Avenue Extension from the eastern part of the city when the bus, which was traveling along Boni Serrano street from C-3 Road going to EDSA, slammed into them at the intersection. The victims were thrown several feet away.