2 hurt in freak road accident

Two commuters waiting for their ride in front of a burger joint on EDSA near the Monumento Circle in Caloocan City, were injured when a wayward bus rammed into a car, starting a freak chain reaction involving eight more vehicles early yesterday morning.

Also damaged was a vegetable stall fronting Wendy’s Hamburger on EDSA. PO2 Rodelio Asuncion, officer-on-case, identified the vehicles as three passenger buses (one Isuzu JMA, one Nissan, one Hino, the last two both Columbus Liners), three sedans (one Honda City, one Honda Civic, one Toyota Corolla) three jeepneys (one Toyota Tamaraw, two isuzu) and a Nissan Vanette.

Injured were Luisito Garcia, 29, married, driver, residing at 130 Baltazar Street. 5th Avenue and Carmela Suzara, 35, single, residing at 177-A, 10th Avenue, both of Grace Park, Caloocan City. Both were taken to the nearby Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital.

PO2 Rodelio Asuncion, officer-on-case, said that the Isuzu bus of JMA Transportation Services driven by Willy Tujelida of Riverside, Malanday, Valenzuela City first rammed the rear end of a Honda Civic, driven by Ramon Viesca of 449 10th Avenue corner Camantigue, Caloocan City allegedly due to faulty brakes.

The runaway bus further hit the Tamaraw and the Corolla, both parked in front of Wendy’s. It continued to plow into four more vehicles before getting stopped by the iron barricades separating the sidewalk from the highway in front of the MCU Hospital.

Driver Tujelida is now detained on charges of reckless imprudence resulting in two counts of physical injuries and multiple damages to property

Meanwhile, a Makati lady-traffic enforcer returned the money and the letter of apology given by a passenger after she apprehended a taxi driver for violating the "no unloading zone" in the city’s busiest district.

Based on the reports, Irene Candelaria, a Makati Parking Authority (MAPA) traffic enforcer was berated and tried to be dissuaded by a passenger of a taxi with plate no. TMZ 173, after she apprehended the cab’s driver in front of Ritz Tower along Ayala Avenue for violation of the "no unloading" zone.

Candelaria, knowing she was right, was unperturbed and proceeded enforcing the law.

After the incident, one of the taxi’s two passengers, a certain Daniel Gomez, wrote an apology letter to Candelaria and enclosed a P500 bill as a "token of our appreciation" for doing the right thing. Candelaria turned over the letter and the money to the MAPA office so that they could be returned to the sender.

Makati Mayor Elenita Binay, upon learning of the incident urged motorists and commuters to avoid dissuading traffic enforcers from performing their duties through verbal abuse or bribery, saying this mentality would only worsen the traffic condition. – Jerry Botial