CEBU, Philippines – Matinee idol Richard Gutierrez is now safe and recuperating in a Manila hospital after figuring in a car accident in Cavite Friday early morning.
According to his mom, Annabelle Rama, in a text message forwarded to The Freeman from Bong Miagan of Metro Gaisano, wherein the GMA 7 favorite leading man was scheduled to make an appearance come May 30, they are very thankful that Richard is fast-recovering, thanks to the prayers of family and supporters.
Rama, who is from Cebu, also said that despite what has happened, her son has expressed his intention to push through with his scheduled Metro Gaisano mall tour on May 30.
Gutierrez, who came from a shooting stint for his nightly TV series "Zorro," lost control of his Nissan Skyline GTR sports car, bumped into two electrical lamp posts, and overturned while negotiating a curve along the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road in Silang Cavite.
Newspaper reports quoted the Cavite police as saying that this part of the road is a blind curve, dark and accident-prone.
Gutierrez was accompanied by his bodyguard, George Mustura, and personal assistant, Norman Pardo. The latter, unfortunately, was declared dead on arrival at the Adventist University Hospital, while Mustura sustained serious injuries and is still being treated at the Tagaytay Medical Center.
Gutierrez, who was also rushed to the Tagaytay Medical Center, was transferred to the Asian Hospital in Alabang and is now in stable condition. As of presstime, Gutierrez has not yet been informed of his assistant's death, news reports said.