34 persons hurt in QC “killer highway’ accident

MANILA, Philippines—Thirty-four people were hurt when two passenger buses figured in an accident in the middle of a downpour in Quezon City Tuesday night.

Traffic investigator Noel Moya of the Quezon City Police District’s Traffic Enforcement Group said the injured were composed of passengers of a SEN Transit bus (plate no. TYM 491) and an Everlasting Bus (plate no. TXG 647).

The casualties were taken to East Avenue Medical Center for treatment.

The drivers and conductors of both vehicles, however, were unhurt.

According to Moya, the accident took place at around 10 p.m. Tuesday in front of Villa Beatriz along Commonwealth Avenue, dubbed the “killer highway” because of the high incidence of accidents in the area.

Angelito Agustin, the driver of the Everlasting Bus, told investigators that he had just stopped by the side of the road to unload some passengers when the other bus slammed into the rear of his vehicle.

Rogelio Letran, the driver of the other bus, said he attempted but failed to stop his vehicle in time. “I tried to stop but the brakes did not [function] and due to the heavy rains, the road was also wet and slippery which made it more difficult [to do so],” he added.

Investigators were still determining how fast Letran’s vehicle was traveling before the accident occurred.