20 hurt in predawn 'racing bus' accident in Makati

At least 20 people were injured, some of them seriously, after a bus crashed into a flyover column allegedly after racing with another bus in Makati City before dawn Tuesday. Radio dzBB’s Manny Vargas reported the incident, which occurred one week after a bus crashed into a post in Quezon City, hit a taxi in front of it before crashing into the flyover column. “Nag-overtake ito ... tapos di nakayanan (The bus driver was tried to overtake another vehicle then lost control)," said Christopher Manuel, one of the passengers. The front of the Mega Bus Lines (TYS-471) was crumpled as it hit the column of the Kalayaan Flyover along the northbound portion of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). The bus driver, who was not immediately identified, escaped and is now at large. He faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injury and damage to property. Passengers said the bus came from Samar province and was heading for its terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, when it figured in the accident before 4 a.m. Seventeen of 20 passengers were brought to the Ospital ng Makati. At least five suffered serious injuries to the neck, head and back, the dzBB report said. Accounts of passengers indicated the Mega Bus Lines vehicle was racing with another bus and hit a Kia Rio taxi (TYS-183) in front of it before crashing. The driver of the taxi, initially identified as Panchito Rosete, 42, was among the injured. Earlier this year, President Arroyo ordered a crackdown on “racing" bus drivers following a bus accident that claimed several lives in Quezon province. But last Dec. 21, a BOTSC bus (NCZ-761) went out of control supposedly while its driver was racing with another bus, and slammed into a concrete post in front of the SM City North EDSA mall. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Alberto Suansing said he ordered the fleet of BOTSC grounded following the accident in Quezon City. At least 39 passengers were injured, including Divine Reyes-Caraecle of dzBB radio. On the other hand, Tuesday's accident came less than 24 hours after four women were killed in a seven-vehicle smashup at the Subic Clark Tarlac Exchange (SCTEX) in Pampanga province Monday afternoon. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said a grass fire that hampered visibility triggered the collision of the seven vehicles at 3 p.m. In its 10 p.m. update, the NDCC identified the fatalities as passengers of a Toyota Avanza utility vehicle (ZJV-296), one of the vehicles in the smashup. They were Sylvia Eustaquio, 62; Margaret Geronimo, 5-6 years old; Zenaida Doctor, 63; and Cristina Geronimo, 37. Other vehicles in the smashup included a Toyota Corolla (TLT-578), Toyota Innova (RFG-231), Mitsubishi Adventure (SHG-397), Forward truck (RAG-459), Honda Civic (MCP-99), and Toyota Hi-Ace (FLG-111). The incident occurred at Sapang Balen village in Mabalacat town in Pampanga, near the eastbound part of SCTEX. Other victims were rushed to the San Rafael Foundation Medical Center for treatment. The injured were identified as Melody Geronimo, 10; Zoe Tagabulid, 5; Shiena Rica Tagabulid, 32; Cristian Tuazon, 29; and Janice Tabacungan, 29. - LBG, GMANews.TV