Jeepney falls into Marikina creek; 7 hurt

Seven people, including four-year-old girl, were seriously hurt when the passenger jeepney they were riding fell into a creek in Marikina City yesterday.

The Marikina City police are now hunting down the driver of the jeepney (PVZ 279), who escaped after the incident.

Police identified the victims as Rizza Abanez 4; Cherry Ann Balonzo 34; Mercedes Casipit, 37; Liza Aragon, 37; Nicasio Mabida, 33; Mary Ann Apanes, 26; and a still unidentified passenger. They were rushed to the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center for treatment.

The passenger jeepney plying the Cubao-Antipolo route was traveling along Maj. Dizon Road in Barangay Barangka at about 4:15 p.m. when the driver lost control of the wheel.

The wayward jeep fell into a creek near the LRT-2 station.

Witnesses said the jeepney, bound for Antipolo City, was racing with another vehicle.

Bystanders plucked out the victims from the vehicle and rushed them to the nearest hospital.

When responding traffic policemen arrived, the unidentified driver was nowhere to be found.

In Pasig City, a car collided with a taxi before ramming into 14 parked cars at the Metrowalk.

Police are readying charges of reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property against the erring driver identified as Kevin Khoe, 33, of New Manila, Quezon City.

Khoe was driving his Honda Accord (UKD 148) when it figured in a collision accident with a taxi at the parking lot of the Metrowalk on Meralco Avvenue at about 10:30 p.m., a traffic investigator said.

While extricating himself from the mess, Khoe hit 14 other parked cars before coming to a full stop.

When confronted by a police investigator, Khoe blamed the narrow space caused by improperly parked vehicles.

Khoe’s vehicle was damaged in the front and rear portion, police said.

"May bangga sa harap at likod kaya’t maaring pinilit niyang makaalpas kaya’t marami siyang nasirang sasakyan," a traffic investigator said.

Among those who showed up to seek reimbursement for their damage cars were owners of the Toyota Camry (USV 764), Mitsubishi Lancer (TSU 462), Toyota Aitis (UHU 668), Nissan X-Trail (XSA 876), Honda Civic (XCW 735), Toyota Vios (TBP 734), Toyota Corolla (NYU 587) and a Mitsubishi L-300 van (UGH 757).

Police are urging owners of other damaged vehicles to come forward so additional charges would be filed against Khoe. — Non Alquitran