1 dead, 16 hurt as jeep tips over on Skyway

A woman was killed while 16 other people were hurt when the southbound passenger jeepney they were riding in tipped over on the Skyway in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Monday morning.

Gemma Acidre, 47, a resident of Pacita Complex in San Pedro, Laguna, died due to severe head injuries, according to the police. She was identified through the documents found in her bag.

Sixteen of her copassengers were taken to Ospital ng Muntinlupa and Metropolitan Medical Center in Sta. Cruz, Manila, for treatment.

The accident happened at 9 a.m. near the Skyway’s Alabang exit as the passenger jeepney was headed for Muntinlupa City from Pasay.

It caused traffic to build up in the area for nearly an hour as only one lane was passable to motorists.

PO3 Jose Villanueva, traffic investigator of the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group, said the jeepney driver, Elmer Delgado, had told them that the right rear tire suddenly burst, causing the vehicle to skid until it hit a guard rail.

Due to the impact, the jeepney tipped over and fell on its left side, causing Acidre, who was seated at the farthest end of the vehicle, to suffer fatal head injuries.

The jeepney driver was taken into police custody and would be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injuries in the Muntinlupa prosecutor’s office, the police said.