Laborer critically hurt in road mishap

A 27-year-old laborer was critically injured after he was sideswiped by a passenger bus yesterday at the boundary of Caloocan City and Malabon.

Rosalito Rabasto, of Mardico Compound, Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City, was rushed to the nearby Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon due to broken bones in different parts of the body.

Northern District Traffic Enforcement Group prober Sgt. Raymund Bautista said that the accident occurred at the corner of C-4 Road and Dagat-Dagatan Avenue at around 11:45 a.m.

The victim was riding his bicycle coming from C-4 Road in Malabon City and was about to turn right in Dagat-Dagatan Avenue, Caloocan City when he was accidentally hit by the HR Line bus driven by Montacer Mamontuan, 35.

Mamontuan said he failed to notice the victim as several other buses were lining up at a no loading and unloading area to pick up passengers.

The victim’s bicycle went under the bus after it was hit by the bus’ front wheel but alert bystanders were able to immediately inform the driver to stop the bus.

"If the bus did not stop on time, the victim could have died instantly," witness Alex Escarten, 28, said. — Pete Laude