5 hurt in 6-vehicle smashup on EDSA

MANILA, Philippines – Five persons were hurt in a collision involving six vehicles on EDSA in Guadalupe, Makati City before dawn yesterday.

The accident caused a traffic jam that reached Magallanes and lasted until just before noon.

The vehicles involved in the accident include a Roval Transport bus (ARA-8273), a JRMS Bus unit (TXJ-248), three passenger jeepneys and a taxicab (UVM-470), the Makati City Traffic Bureau said.

Five passengers of the Roval bus were slightly injured in the accident and were taken to a hospital by Makati City and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority rescue personnel. Two of the victims were identified as Richard Batardi and Wilma Frias.

Initial investigation showed that the Roval bus, which plies the Muntinlupa-Valenzuela route, was travelling on EDSA’s northbound lane when the driver lost control upon reaching Guadalupe at around 5 a.m.

The bus rear-ended a passenger jeepney (PYH-292) near the Guadalupe cloverleaf interchange. The bus then swerved to the right and hit another passenger jeepney (TYJ-508), which was entering EDSA from the basement terminal parking of the Guadalupe Commercial Complex.

The first passenger jeepney hit by the Roval bus continued to roll and slammed into a taxi, which hit a parked JRMS bus.

The Makati police has launched a manhunt for the Roval bus driver and conductor, who remain unidentified. They face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in injury and damage to property.