Police: 5 hurt as bus crashes into toll gate in Parañaque

Five passengers were reported injured after a Cavite-bound bus they were riding crashed into a toll gate near the Coastal Road in Parañaque City early Monday. PO2 Roberto Pagsisihan of the Parañaque police said the incident occurred at 6 a.m., with the driver claiming the bus' brakes suddenly failed. "Lima ang naiulat na nasaktan. Hindi naman grabe, tsine-checkup ng ating [mga] duktor," Pagsisihan said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the incident occurred at about 6 a.m. at the toll gate, when the Cavite-bound bus crashed into one of the toll booths. The teller managed to jump to safety and was not hurt. Pagsisihan did not identify the teller. Pagsisihan also said the driver of the bus, who he did not immediately name, claimed the bus' brakes failed, forcing him to deliberately hit the toll booth so he would not damage other vehicles. "Imbes may masaktang ibang sasakyan at ma-damage ang ibang sasakyan inano na lang sa toll booth (The driver claimed he crashed into the toll booth to avoid hitting other vehicles)," he said. He said the passengers of the bus (NXS-663) were brought to the Don Florencio Bernabe Hospital for treatment. — RSJ, GMA News