16 hurt in three-vehicle early morning mishap

CEBU, Philippines – A jeepney driver is now in critical condition and 15 others were hurt in a three-vehicle smash up early morning yesterday at corner M.J. Cuenco Ave. and V. Sotto St., barangay Tinago, this city.

Joel Pino of barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City, is now confined at the Cebu City Medical Center. He is, however, out of danger.

He was pinned inside his jeepney after it collided with another PUJ that also hit a taxi cab around 4:40 a.m. yesterday.

The traffic investigator said that a public utility jeepney with route number 21-D and driven by Mark Anthony Montana, 20, of barangay Ibabao-Estancia, Mandaue City, was coasting on M.J. Cuenco Ave. heading towards Mandaue City when it met a Juscar taxi driven by Macvet Jabedo, 29, of Talisay City, that was maneuvering to make a left turn towards V. Sotto.

Witnesses said that Montana's jeepney was travelling at a fast clip and tried to avoid the taxi, but hit the right side of the vehicle.

After that, the PUJ of Montana rammed head on with the PUJ driven by Pino, which was heading towards downtown Cebu City. Pino was pinned along with a female passenger, who was seated in front.

Responding paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) pried Pino out of the vehicle and rushed him to the hospital.

Montana also sustained minor injuries.

The other injured were identified as Dodon Ruiz, 38, of barangay Ilaya, San Fernando; Dina Racoma, 40, Consolacion; Romar Villegas, 22, Umapad, Mandaue City; Jhonrey Sahonia, 28, Jagobiao, Mandaue City; Terrie Vallesor, 34, Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City; Eddie Llena, 35, Ilaya, San Fernando; Elizabeth Golosino, 19, Basak, Cebu City.

Tiffany Senelo, 20, Consolacion; Mirasol Saldua, 33, Poblacion, San Fernando; Giomedes Navares, 41, Carcar; Marieta Gaviola, 46, Bakilid, Mandaue City; husband and wife Edwin, 49, and Elsa Diaz, 49, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City; and Jean Furosello, 25, Liloan.

Manuel Taga-an of the Traffic Patrol Group of the City Traffic Operations management (CITOM) said that according to their investigation, Montana was not able to apply brakes on time resulting to the accident.

Jabedo, the taxi driver, told radio station dyHP that he saw the fast-approaching jeepney while he was making a left turn toward V. Sotto St. He tried to avoid the speeding jeepney, but wasn't fast enough.

"Gilubag nako og maayo ang manobela paglikay pero nasaghiran jud ko," he said.

Montana, reportedly, lost control of his jeepney and also swerved left to the opposite lane where Pino's jeepney was travelling. 

In an interview over radio station dy HP, Montana denied that he was driving at a fast speed.

He also said that he is not using drugs, which the authorities might suspect is the reason that led to the accident.   PO3 Armando Bañoc of the Traffic Division said that Montana would face charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries.

"Basin nag-apas ni siya (Montana) sa oras nga maka-round napud dayon kay tingpasahero man ning orasa," Bañoc said. Most of the passengers are workers of companied based at the Mactan Export Zone in Lapu-Lapu City.

Montana is temporarily detained at the City Traffic Operation Management stockade while waiting for the complainants to file a case against him. - /NLQ (FREEMAN)