18 hurt in tourist bus mishap

Eighteen people were injured when a tourist bus caused a 13-vehicle collision in Baclaran, Parañaque City during yesterday morning’s rush hour.

The victims, 12 women and six men, were brought to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay City immediately after the smashup.

The victims ranged in age from the late 20s to 50s, and one was a senior citizen, according to a list provided by the city police’s traffic bureau.

The red Classic Leisure tourist bus (TYT-831) was on Roxas Boulevard when it rear-ended a silver Mitsubishi Adventure (ZTP-786), which hit the vehicle in front of it.

The tourist bus apparently swerved and hit the back of a UV Express van (AIA-5398), also damaging its back portion and causing it to rear-end other vehicles.

The incident involved 13 vehicles – the tourist bus, a passenger bus, four UV Express vans, two motorcycles and a taxi.

Police arrested the driver of the tourist bus, Ricardo Madrona Lope, 48, who insisted that the bus’ air brakes failed while he was driving it at around 30 to 40 kilometers per hour.

He added that the bus underwent a maintenance check before he drove it. He asked for understanding from the victims.

Lope was neither drunk nor high at the time of the accident, according to Police Officer 3 Michael Loneza.

Police are set to file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple serious physical injuries and damage to property against Lope by Monday.

1 dead, 6 hurt in QC smashup

Meanwhile, a female pedestrian was killed while at least six people were injured in a four-vehicle smashup in Quezon City yesterday around noon.

Police said the crash started after a truck, driven by Eriberto Acosta, lost its brakes and crashed into other vehicles along San Mateo Road in Barangay Batasan Hills at around noon.

The truck hit another truck, a taxi and a passenger jeepney.

The truck was seen first hitting a woman who was crossing the street. It careened to the other side of the road and hit the other vehicles in its path.

The fatality was identified by police as Jallen Quijano Torta. Among those injured were the passengers of the taxi, identified as Drix Gabertan Julian, Dennis Julian, Wilfredo Ballena and Federico Malicdim.

Acosta faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and damage to property with homicide. –

EDD GUMBAN, GHIO ONG Bystanders check out vehicles involved in a collision along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City yesterday. The collision started with a tourist bus (right photo) driven by Ricardo Madrona Lope (inset).