5 hurt as train hits ambulance

The ambulance got trapped on the PNR tracks on Friday afternoon after being slowed down by tricycles in heavy traffic in Sta. Cruz. One of its injured passengers was a pregnant woman. —RICHARD A. REYES

Five people in a government ambulance, including a pregnant woman, were injured when it was hit by a Philippine National Railways train near the PNR Blumentritt station in Manila on Friday afternoon.

Witnesses and responders said the ambulance, which belonged to Barangay 167, Caloocan City, got trapped in the train’s path after being slowed down by tricycles due to heavy traffic on the northbound lane of Rizal Avenue in Barangay 365, Sta. Cruz.

It got stuck after clearing the railroad crossing gate and was hit on the side by the Alabang-bound train around 3:45 p.m., according to Conrado Mendoza of the Blue Eagle rescue group and one of the first responders at the scene.

Suffering injuries on impact, its four passengers and the driver were conscious when brought to Jose Reyes Medical Center for treatment.

The driver identified as 41-year-old Jaime Pagas, suffered a punctured lung. The others were Perla Vizcaya, Sally Marcelo, Eduardo Marcelo, and the pregnant Marilou Vallas, 35.

The Manila Traffic Bureau was investigating the incident as of press time.