35 hurt in bus mishap

At least 35 persons, including a baby, were seriously hurt after a bus went out of control, rammed the center island and fell on its side on East Avenue in Quezon City yesterday afternoon.

Traffic enforcer Jaime Ramos of CPD-Traffic Sector 3 said the incident happened at around 3 p.m. in front of the National Kidney Institute across Gate 1 of the Quezon City Hall.

The Baclaran-bound Rainbow Express bus (NXM-486) came from Fairview and bound from Baclaran.

The impact caused the engine oil to spill on road, according to victims interviewed by The STAR.

Bus driver George Maputol, of B36 Ilang-Ilang street, Maligaya, Camarin, Caloocan, was immediately apprehended by authorities and taken to the CPD Headquarters in Camp Karingal for questioning.

Victim Marilou Lobo, whose pelvic bone was fractured, told The STAR that Maputol was racing with other buses prior the incident.

Her husband, Manolo, who sustained a laceration in the forehead, said he repeatedly asked the driver to slow down but he was ignored. Their daughter, Fatima, was also injured.

"Nung paliko na yung bus sa East Avenue nagmadali pa lalong mag-overtake ang isa pang bus," he said.

At this point, the bus driver lost control of the steering wheel and rammed the center island before falling on its side.

"Along Philcoa pa lang kitang-kitang ko nakikipag-unahan na siya (bus driver). Pinagsabihan ko na nga siya pero hindi siya nakinig," said another victim identified as Nestor Jolo.

The victims noted that the bus driver was not drunk and was simply driving too fast because of there were few vehicles on the road.

Some 22 victims were rushed to the National Kidney Institute while some 24 more were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment, Ramos said. – Katherine Adraneda