75 hurt in 2 bus accidents

MANILA, Philippines - At least 75 persons were reported hurt in two separate bus accidents since Monday night.

Along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, 43 persons were injured when the brakes of the Everlasting Transport Inc. bus (TXE-604), driven by Rubencio Caneda, failed and the vehicle smashed into a concrete post at past 10 p.m., according to Senior Inspector Narciso Cajipe Jr., chief of Traffic Sector 3 of the Quezon City Police District.

Caneda, 49, a resident of Barangay Humayao in Dasmariñas, Cavite, fled after the crash, which happened along the northbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue next to the Tandang Sora flyover in Barangay Old Balara, Cajipe said.

The bus’ 42 passengers were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment.

Cajipe believes the driver might have panicked and went to his company’s office, where he surrendered his driver’s license. He found out the identity of the driver when bus company representatives went to his office to present the driver’s license of Caneda.

After going to the company office, Caneda went to the Far Eastern University Hospital, where he remains confined.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued yesterday a preventive suspension on the Everlasting bus franchise that covers the unit involved in the accident. Board member Ronnie Corpuz said the franchise covers 10 units.

The preventive suspension will run for 30 days, during which time the board will hold hearings to determine if graver sanctions would be meted on the bus firm, LTFRB spokesperson Jocelyn Reyes said.

The bus firm will also be required to have its units undergo roadworthiness tests and its drivers tested for drug use.

In Caloocan City, 32 people were hurt when a truck rammed a passenger bus at an “accident-prone” intersection yesterday morning. 

Initial investigation show that a truck carrying sacks of rice grain crashed into a unit of Alro Trans bus at the corner of Fifth and Seventh Avenues at past 6 a.m. 

The Navotas-bound truck hit the middle of the bus, causing it to skid sideways until it fell on its side. 

The injured passengers and bus driver were rushed to the MCU and Diosdado Macapagal Hospitals.

It took some time before truck driver Monico Quino was pulled out behind the steering wheel.

Senior Police Officer 1 Ric Villanueva said the site is accident-prone and people have died in previous car crashes.

Senior Inspector Gaylord Tamayo said the cause of the accident is still under investigation as probers have yet to figure out which of the drivers was at fault. – With Aie Balagtas See