17 hurt in 9-vehicle collision

Seventeen persons were injured when a bus they were riding hit eight vehicles along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City Friday morning.

Driver Francisco Cea allegedly lost control of the Ismael Bus Line unit (TXR-798) he was driving along the boulevard’s southbound lane near its intersection with MIA Road in Barangay Tambo.

Cea and commuters Virgilio Dante, Maria Arlei Valerie Umali, Sofia Maria Umali, and Ma. Lorie Almachar, Jasmine Maria Angelika Zara, Ma. Theresa Zara and Thyrone Jhedrick Zara were among those injured.

Commuters Jacinto Villacorta Jr., Juvy Villacorta, Rechelle Villacorta, James Villacorta, Nova Esmundo, Trisha Esmundo, Raid Esmundo, and Michelle Bernadette Esmundo were also injured.

The passengers of a Toyota Fortuner (VR 504), identified as Maria Lucille Zara and Samantha Umali, were also injured.

Superintendent Jenny Tecson, Southern Police District spokesperson, said Cea hit a Toyota Hi Ace Grandia van (ABE 4654) driven by Diody Dehiza, the Toyota Fortuner driven by Joseph Almachar, a Mitsubishi Mirage (NQ 6331) driven by Jhun Santos, an IVECO CC 150 bus (ACY-4090) driven by Robert Tayco and a Subaru (HW 6563) of Hui Xing Wang.

The bus also hit a jeepney (NYR 514) of Ruel Dillo, a Toyota Vios (UVN 712) of Noel Ortega Cellona, and a Mitsubishi Montero (VEK 956) driven by Patricio Villos.

Tecson said all of the injured persons were rushed to San Juan de Dios and Ospital ng Parañaque shortly after the incident while all vehicles involved are now under the custody of the Parañaque City police, where Cea is being held on charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and multiple damage to properties.