At least 17 hurt in bus accident on Commonwealth Ave, driver held

At least 17 people were injured after a passenger bus they were riding went out of control and turned on its side in Quezon City Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred at a part of Commonwealth Avenue at the Litex area in Quezon City, radio dzBB's Rowena Salvacion reported. Police took into custody the driver of the bus, initially identified as Roderick Beril, who now faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property and multiple physical injuries. Beril claimed he was trying to avoid hitting a vehicle in front of him when it was making a U-turn at the Litex area, but the bus went out of control. He said he tried to hit the brakes but got no response. Police are verifying information that the bus was going very fast before it crashed. Initial investigation showed the bus (TXL-824) was plying the route between Baclaran and SM Fairview in Quezon City. Of the 17 injured, nine were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center while eight were brought to the Far Eastern University Hospital. Among the most seriously injured was a male passenger who suffered a broken leg, the report said. — BM, GMA News