2 killed, at least 20 injured in Mandaue road accident

CEBU CITY-Two persons were killed while more than 20 persons were injured on Saturday morning when a minibus lost its brakes and hit two jeepneys, a bicycle and two pedestrians before ramming into an electric post along the national highway of MC Briones St. corner Dungguan road Basak, Mandaue City.

Bicycle rider Edwin Rago, a security guard from Consolacion town, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mandaue City district hospital while an unidentified woman who was just doing a morning jog with her German Shepherd also died at the Eversley Childs Sanitarium hospital in Mandaue City.

Traffic investigator PO2 Ruben Cerdeña of the Mandaue City Police Office traffic division, said the accident was caused by a minibus (plate number GWN 430) which came from Carmen town and was heading to Cebu City.

The minibus, driven by Antonio Abatayo and was carrying over 30 passengers, allegedly lost its brakes while traveling down the highway about 5 a.m.

Abatayo told Cerdeña that when he noticed the problem, he decided to swerve his bus to the left lane, thinking that only few vehicles were using the left lane or the lane going to the Consolacion town.

But when he swerved to the left lane, two pedestrians, including the woman who was walking her dog, were hit.

Then the minibus swerved back to the right lane and hit a passenger jeepney and the bicycle rider heading to Consolacion town.

When the minibus reached the right lane, it hit another passenger jeepney heading for Cebu City before ramming into an electric post.

At least 21 passengers were injured and brought to different hospitals for treatment.

The two injured pedestrians were also brought to Eversley Childs Sanitarium hospital but the woman was pronounced dead on arrival because of head injuries. The woman was not identified because no one has yet gone to the hospital to claim the remains as of 1 p.m.

The second pedestrian identified as Eduardo Padayon, 58, from Upper Jagobiao, Mandaue City, was also brought to the hospital. He sustained a fracture in the arm.

The bicycle driver Edwin Rago came from his duty in Cebu City and was heading home in Consolacion when he met the accident.

Cerdeña said Rago sustained severe injuries as his body was dragged by the minibus for a few meters.

The drivers and passengers of the two jeepneys were did not sustain any injuries.

The driver of the minibus, Abatayo, who was also injured in his leg, was brought to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

He will be charged for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to properties. CDG