Frenzy at MRT station leaves woman injured

(Updated 12:01 p.m.) At least one person was injured after a commotion broke out at the Quezon Avenue station of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system and sent people on one escalator falling on top of each other, a report on dzBB radio said. A 19-year-old female victim, Kathleen Driz, was rushed to the Capitol Medical Center. Other people were reportedly hurt, although it was not immediately known what kind of assistance they have been receiving. Driz told dzBB radio she got pinned by other escalator riders shortly after hearing a loud scream. She said other people were also pinned, but could not say how serious their injuries were. Dorielyn Lazaraga, duty supervisor at the MRT Quezon Avenue station, said the accident took place on the escalator located at the station's southbound lane at around 7:15 a.m. amid the Friday morning rush hour grind. Lazaraga added that the escalator was not operational at the time of the accident. During such "peak hours," the escalators are stopped to accommodate the large volume of people ascending and descending the railway platform. Driz sustained scratches to her back, a bruise to her knees and "wounds" to her legs, the MRT officer said. "Nagtataka nga kami kasi siya lang ang lumapit at wala namang ibang complainants ... baka nadulas lang siya (We wondered why she was the only one who approached us when there were no other complainants ... Maybe she just slipped)," Lazaraga said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. Driz was initially taken to the station's ticket office before her relatives accompanied her to the Capitol Medical Center to seek further treatment, Lazaraga said. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV