7 hurt in 11-vehicle smashup

MANILA, Philippines - At least seven persons were injured when a wayward bus caused an 11-vehicle collision at the intersection of E. Aguinaldo Highway and MIA Road in Parañaque City yesterday morning.

The Jethro bus driver, who was still unidentified, fled after the accident and is now the subject of a manhunt, city police chief Senior Superintendent Ariel Andrade told The STAR.

He said the driver will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and multiple damage to property.

Andrade said among those injured were bus passengers Ramil Tapia, 46; Lolita Castro, 66; Marissa Aliling, 41; John Paul Aliling, 12; Wilfredo Contemplo, 62.

Motorists Joel Pascual, 57, who was driving a Nissan Sentra; and Joel Aquino, 57, who was driving a Toyota Corolla, were also hurt.

Andrade said the drivers of the seven other vehicles and a motorcycle that figured in the collision were unhurt.

According to investigators, five of the vehicles were heading toward Manila along E. Aguinaldo Highway while seven other vehicles were headed toward the airport when the driver of the bus, bound for Cavite, lost control and hit four vehicles that stopped at the red light.

The impact caused the four vehicles to hit several others while the bus hit a Kia Besta before slamming into the concrete center island.