11 passengers hurt as bus rams bus along Edsa

MANILA, Philippines — Eleven passengers were injured after two public utility buses figured in an accident along the northbound lane of Edsa corner Pasay Road in Makati City on Sunday morning.

An initial report by the Makati Traffic Bureau revealed that a Precious Grace bus, with plate No. UVH 567, hit the back portion of a JAC Liner bus with plate No. UVW 955 at around 7:40 a.m.

Seven passengers from the JAC Liner bus, including a mother and her 9-year-old son, sustained minor injuries from the accident. Lolita De Lenia and son Nico John were taken to the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) along with five others whose identities were not revealed by the hospital. The injured were reportedly sitting at the back part of the bus, which was directly hit by the other vehicle.

Meanwhile, 42-year-old Carlos Dequiña and his two daughters, Rochelle and Mary Rose, also sustained abrasions when they failed to get hold of the steel railings of the Precious Grace bus when it lost control and hit the vehicle in front of it.

The MMDA rescue team said the Dequiñas immediately received medical attention for their injuries but they were still taken to Osmak for a checkup. Another passenger of the bus identified as Amorcena Delas Alas also sustained minor injuries.

Traffic investigators said in a report that the Malanday-bound Precious Grace bus lost its brakes, causing it to lose control and hit the stationary JAC Liner bus, which was waiting for the green traffic light at the intersection of Edsa and Pasay Road.

Banjo Fetizanan of the MMDA Metrobase told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the accident happened fast and their closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were not able to capture the crash.

“The CCTV cameras along Edsa only captured the buses after the collision,” Fetizanan said noting that an MMDA Rescue team immediately proceeded to the area.

Precious Grace bus driver Romano Parena told the police that he instructed his passengers to hold on to their seats and to the railings of the bus when he found out that his vehicle’s brake was not working. Unfortunately, the four injured from the bus apparently did not hear the instruction as they were seated far from the driver.

Due to the impact of the collision, the windshield of the Precious Grace bus was shattered while the rear portion of the JAC Liner vehicle was dented.

Parena and JAC Liner bus driver Alex Villanueva are now under the custody of the Makati Traffic bureau pending the investigation of the accident.