19 hurt in Commonwealth Ave bus mishap

MANILA, Philippines - Nineteen passengers were injured when two buses collided along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Senior Police Officer 1 Gary Talacay said the accident happened at past 6 a.m. along the southbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue just in front of the UP-Ayala Techno Hub in Barangay Old Capitol Site, Diliman.

It involved a Jayross Lucky 7 (TXR-476) and a Prado bus (TXR-476). Talacay said all of those hurt were passengers of the Prado bus, driven by Junrey Nunez.

Rescuers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority brought those injured to the East Avenue Medical Center.

Nunez, who was unhurt, said the brakes of the bus failed and the vehicle rear-ended the stationary Jayross Lucky 7 bus in front of him.

Nunez told police he managed to steer the driver’s side away as the front right side of the Prado bus smashed into the rear left of the Jayross Lucky 7 bus.

Gregorio de Jesus, who was driving the Jayross Lucky 7 bus, said he had to stop when a fish vendor carrying two pails of fish had to alight from a jeepney.

Due to the impact, the Jayross Lucky 7 bus hit the fish vendor and tipped one of the pails, scattering some of the fish on the road.