8 injured in Quezon City ‘killer highway’ accident

MANILA, Philippines—At least eight people were injured on Monday when a passenger bus was said to have lost its brakes and plowed through 10 vehicles in Quezon City along Commonwealth Avenue, dubbed the “killer highway,” a rescue team of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Tuesday.

According to the investigation by the MMDA Rescue team, a passenger bus named “Original,” driven by Eduardo Quiros, lost its brakes near the vicinity of Puregold supermarket, swerving and sideswiping an “Earthstar” bus, which suddenly halted, causing a motorcycle to hit its back, Lovely Yap of the MMDA Rescue told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

After hitting the Earthstar bus, the Original bus then went on to hit a passenger jeepney and a tow truck, causing injuries to four persons. They were identified as Jela Velasco and Joseph Manalo, both passengers of the jeepney; and Domingo Quipe and Danilo Arilla, both passengers of the tow truck, a certain Police Officer 3 Joven of Traffic Sector 5 said in a separate interview.

Because of the impact, the tow truck hit two tricycles and one pick-up truck, Yap said. The pick-up then hit a motorcycle and a bicycle, she added.

The bicyclist, identified by Joven as Ceasar Acia, was earlier reported to be in critical condition.

Meanwhile, the Original bus sped on and swerved to the left, hitting a Rav 4 vehicle. A Honda Accord driver then chased the bus and blocked it in front to get it to stop, Yap said.

The Honda Accord driver told MMDA investigators that the bus driver was evasive, as if trying to get away, when he tried to get in front of the bus to make it stop, Yap said.

As a result of what the Honda Accord driver did, his vehicle also suffered damages.

Bus passengers Grace and Joseph Pocoro, and motorcycle rider Mila Ortega were also injured, according to the spot report of the Traffic Sector 5.

Most of the injured were rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment, Yap said.

Joven said that he could not yet say what charges would be filed against the “Original” bus driver, Eduardo Quiros.