Car drives into group of Simbang Gabi band musicians in Cavite; 16 hurt

Update

MANILA, Philippines — A band leader was critically injured while 15 of his bandmates were also injured after a car hit them in Bacoor City on Tuesday.

Supt. Vicente Cabatingan, chief of the Bacoor City police, told INQUIRER.net that Raccie Garcia Torres, 35, remains at the Intensive Care Unit of the St. Dominic Medical Center as of Wednesday.

According to Cabatingan, Torres and his bandmates were rounding the Evangelista Road in Barangay Maliksi 1 at around 2 a.m. when the Mitsubishi Mirage driven by a certain Jhapet John Gulmatico hit them from the back.

Cabatingan said it is the band’s tradition to wake up churchgoers on the first day of Simbang Gabi.

The suspect, who works long hours as a service crew in Manila, allegedly fell asleep while driving, Cabatingan said.

Torres sustained the most serious injuries as he was the first to be hit by the vehicle. Cabatingan said the car even went over the victim. The band’s instruments were also damaged.

Five of the victims, including Torres, remain at the St. Dominic Medical Center  while another injured member is confined at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.

Cabatingan said the victims include 10 minors, the youngest of whom is 11 years old.

The suspect was brought to the Bacoor lock up cell in Barangay Talaba 4 as he faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple serious physical injuries and damage to properties. /ee/ac