Bus driver in fatal Quezon Boulevard accident surrenders

MANILA, Philippines—The driver of the Earth Star bus that figured in an accident that killed one and injured several others along Quezon Blvd. in Arroceros (Plaza Lawton), Manila, on Wednesday morning surrendered to the police by 5 p.m. on the same day.

Operatives from the Manila Police District-Traffic Enforcement Unit (MPD-TEU) caught up with Richard Enero, 41, of Davao City, at the Earth Star terminal in Fairview, Quezon City. He gave himself up peacefully.

The case investigator, Senior Police Officer 3 Sergio Macaraeg, said Enero denied speeding and claimed that his brakes malfunctioned.

Enero told police he only fled the scene because he was afraid of being beaten up by the bystanders.

Enero is now being held at the MPD-TEU detention cell. Macaraeg said they would file complaints of homicide, multiple physical injuries and reckless imprudence against the driver by Thursday morning.

The fatal victim was identified through his ID as Rolando Sunga Roldan of Pilar Village in Las Piñas City, a Radyo Inquirer 990AM report said Wednesday morning.

The report said that Roldan had just eaten and was on his way back to the Philippine Post Office where he was an employee.

The report said the accident, which happened around 8 a.m., involved an Earth Star Express bus, two jeepneys, two FX vehicles and another bus (Kerby Transport).

Quoting witnesses, Chief Inspector Elmer Oseo told Radyo Inquirer that the speeding Earth Star Express hit a jeepney, the impact of which triggered a chain reaction involving an FX, another jeepney, the Kerby Transport bus and then another FX at the foot of Quezon Bridge in Lawton coming from Quiapo.

Oseo said at least seven people were taken to nearby hospitals while Roldan remained lying on the road as Scene of the Crime Operatives began their investigation.