11 hurt in bus mishap

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven passengers were hurt when an Alabang-bound bus rear-ended another bus that was about to unload passenger near a television station along EDSA’s southbound lane in Quezon City early yesterday.

Initial investigation showed that at about 4:09 a.m., the Laguna Starbus Transport bus (TXC-724) driven by Rolando Pisolmo was about to unload passengers at the sidewalk near the UNTV television station when it was rear-ended by the Roval Transport bus (PXE-886) driven by Mario Denobo.

Police Officer 1 Leonardo Policarpio, traffic investigator of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said the collision shattered the front windshield of the Roval bus and damaged the rear windshield of the Laguna Starbus, causing glass fragments to fly.

Two passengers of the Laguna Starbus and nine pasengers of the Roval Transport bus were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment of slight injuries.

According to Policarpio, the Roval bus apparently miscalculated its distance when the Laguna Starbus suddenly stopped.

Policarpio said Roval Transport assured the MMDA that it will shoulder the medical expenses of the injured passengers.