11 injured in car accident

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines   — Eleven persons, most of them minors, were injured when a public utility jeepney they were riding turned upside down at Araneta Street in front of a school in this city Tuesday night, police said.

Jeepney driver Vicente Gallardo, 47, of Cordova Avenue in Brgy. 13, Bacolod, and his wife Melody, were injured but their two children were unharmed, in the accident which happened outside the Medalia Elementary School in Brgy. Pahanocoy.

Gallardo’s passengers identified as Cecille Mae Villar, 23, Chona Hazel Celis, 33, Grecia Geguinto, 24, Maredel Dequiña, 10, April Dream Nobleza, 23, Joefayca Yvette Baja, 16, Sofayca Ylllise Baja, 16, Rey Deles, 45, all of Brgy. Sum-ag and Gabrielle Adriene Descatin, 15, of Brgy. Pahanocoy also sustained injuries.

Gallardo said his vehicle rolled over, and some of his passengers crawled out of the jeep after the accident.

The injured passengers were rushed to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Hospital and Riverside Medical Center, traffic investigator Police Officer 3 Joey Mira said.

Investigation showed that the wreakage of an old vehicle being pulled by the Suzuki van of Noel Cuizon, 45, hit the side of Gallardo’s jeep. — (FREEMAN)