6 killed as bus plows through crowd of commuters on Edsa

The body of one of the fatal victims lies beside the Elena Liner bus that plowed through a crowd of commuters on Edsa-Magallanes in Makati City  early Thursday. PHOTO BY ERWIN AGUILON/RADYO INQUIRER 990AM

MANILA, Philippines—Six people were killed Thursday morning after a bus plowed through a crowd of commuters at the south-bound lane of Edsa-Magallanes in Makati City, a radio report said.

Senior Supt. Manuel Lukban, Makati Police chief, told Radyo Inquirer 990AM that an Elena Liner bus allegedly lost its brakes and rammed a group of people at the Magallanes loading and unloading bay before crashing into an MGV Trans bus around 6:40 a.m. Thursday.

“Yung Elena Liner wala nang preno. Ang bilis ng takbo. Gumilid s’ya kaya nakaladkad ang mga pasahero na nag-aabang…Maraming sugatan, galing sa bus (na) nagsitalunan. Talsik sila,” said Joy Guzman, a vendor who witnessed the accident.

Guzman said the people who were at the loading bay panicked. Some fell to the ground as they tried to run away.

Five people were reportedly killed on the spot while another one died later after sustaining serious injuries. At least 30 were reported injured and to nearby hospitals.

Lukban said the MGV Trans bus driver surrendered himself to the police while that of the Elena Liner was wounded. He said the police escorted the latter to a hospital.