SEVEN were hurt, including five elementary students, after they were hit by a passenger jeepney in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City yesterday.
The two adults were identified as Bonifacio Papellero from Lapu-Lapu City and Lareta Cabanero from Carcar City.
The students were identified as Emmanuel Luciano, Andrea Limpot and Lyka Econas, all 11; Jasper Ian Gelimer, 10; and Diane Hijara, 13. They are reportedly from Barangay Banawa.
They all suffered minor bruises, except for Papellero whose right leg was severely injured.
The incident happened around 11:30 a.m.
‘Cause‘
Driver Jose Maghanoy, 47, said he was slowing down as he approached the stoplight on V. Rama corner M. Velez St. when his steering wheel suddenly swerved to the right before he could hit the brakes.
He first hit Papellero who was sitting on his parked motorcycle before the jeepney crashed into the pedestrian lane where the other victims were waiting for a ride. The jeepney only stopped when it hit the back of a sedan.
Joy Tumulak, City Traffic Operations Management operations chief, said Maghanoy was carrying four passengers but they were unscathed.
Maghanoy said he was driving 15 to 20 kilometers per hour when he noticed the wiring on his steering wheel snap and he could no longer control the vehicle.
“Dunay pa hinuon untay brake pero naglisod ra gihapon siya og control (He still had a problem controlling the vehicle even though there was the brake),” Tumulak told Sun.Star Cebu.
The five students were taken to the Cebu City Medical Center, while Papellero and Cabanero were rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Charge
A case of reckless impudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and damage to property will be filed against Maghanoy.
According to witness Margarito Racal, a security guard, he was talking to Papellero, a pawnshop messenger, when the jeepney suddenly hit the latter.
Racal said Papellero immediately reached for his right leg.
“Buanga ani bay, nabalian ko (My leg is broken),” He quoted Papellero as saying.
Another witness who was not identified said the jeepney was traveling fast.
Maghanoy was also reportedly thrown out of the jeepney during impact.
A water main was reportedly damaged during the crash and flooded a portion of the intersection.