3 hurt as school service van hits gutter, lamppost

MANILA, Philippines–The driver of a private van might have been rushing to get his young passengers to school on time when the vehicle hit a road gutter, slammed into a lamppost and fell on its side in Pasig City on Monday morning.

The accident which took place on Pasig Boulevard in Barangay (village) Pineda at 6:10 a.m. left three people injured, including two school boys who suffered bruises in different parts of their bodies.

Case officer Senior Police Officer 1 Rodrigo Talon said that Jeffrey Asilo, 14, and Martin Angelo Gonzales Trajano, 9, were rushed to The Medical City for treatment.

Danilo Angay, 54, the driver of the Don Bosco Technical College-accredited school service van owned by Thelma Agapito, complained of a chipped tooth and a bleeding mouth after the impact caused him to slam his face on the steering wheel. He, however, did not have to be confined in the hospital.

The four other students in the van (plate no. TXD 958) were unhurt, according to Talon.

An initial investigation showed that before the collision, Angay was avoiding a tricycle in the middle of the lane.

The accident snarled traffic in the area until the school service vehicle was removed by members of the Pasig City Rescue.

While the parents of the injured boys have not expressed any intention of filing charges against the driver, Talon said he had yet to talk to the parents of the four other passengers.

Talon added that charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and damage to property could be filed against Angay, who denied he was speeding at the time of the accident.