18 hurt in Antipolo road mishap

MANILA, Philippines - Eighteen persons were injured when a passenger jeepney crashed into a tree in Antipolo, Rizal Sunday while six others were also hurt when a dump truck rammed a concrete fence and fell into a canal in Negros Occidental Saturday.

Among those hurt in Antipolo were tabloid reporter Jhie Convocar and jeepney driver Michael Cadinao.

Convocar, Cadinao and four others were transferred to the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center due to their critical condition. They were initially taken to the Antipolo District Hospital along with 12 other passengers.

Senior Superintendent Bernabe Balba, Rizal police director, said Cadinao was driving along Marcos Highway in Barangay San Jose when the jeepney developed engine trouble.

Cadinao said the brakes malfunctioned and he decided to ram the vehicle into a tree at around 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, in Negros Occidental, Ana Katrina Aquino, 22, and her two-year-old son Marjun were injured when a dump truck rammed the fence of their house in Bacolod City.

Aside from the Aquinos, four others – Hydie Balsomo, 35, and her children John Dave, 11, and John Darwin, 11 months, and Ma. Belenda Lachica, 30 – were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Case investigator Police Officer 2 Sonny Pesales said truck driver Marcelo Celeste Jr. lost control of the wheel and hit the fence of Aquino’s house in Barangay Alangilan at around 8:30 a.m.

Pesales said the truck fell into a canal after hitting the fence.

The Balsomos and Lachica, who hitched with Celeste’s vehicle, fell from the truck.

Pesales said Aquino’s son was seriously injured in the acccident.

Celeste surrendered to village officials, who turned him over to the police. He will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property and multiple physical injuries, Pesales said.  – With Danny Dangcalan