1 dead, several hurt in multiple vehicle smashup in Manila

(Updated 11:11 a.m.) One person was reported killed while several others were injured after a passenger bus went out of control and caused a smashup of at least six vehicles in Manila's Lawton area early Wednesday. Several rescue teams rushed to the site, even as the driver of the bus (PWG-638) fled from the scene, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported. Investigators are verifying information that the male fatality was crossing the road when he was hit by the bus. Some passengers of the vehicles involved in the smashup were rushed to nearby hospitals, including three to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, the report added. Superintendent Reynaldo Nava, head of the Manila Enforcement Traffic Group, urged the owner of the bus to convince the driver to come out and explain what happened. Nava said the driver, who was not immediately identified, faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple physical injuries, and damage to property. While the dzBB report said six vehicles were involved, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said on its Twitter account there were seven vehicles involved - three buses, two passenger jeeps, one FX vehicle, and one utility vehicle. An initial investigation showed the regular bus, plying the Fairview-Quiapo-Baclaran route, was cruising along the southbound lane from Quezon Bridge when it went out of control and slammed into a passenger jeep. In turn, this caused a chain reaction where the jeep hit a "UV Express" taxi, which hit another jeep. The incident snarled traffic in the area. — RSJ, GMA News