School clerk dies as train hits jeepney in Manila

A 56-year-old school clerk died after a train rammed the jeepney she was riding near the PNR Pedro Gil Station in Manila on Tuesday night, Oscar Oida reported on 24 Oras Wednesday.

Bernadita Matias was one of the passengers of Marlon Pertida, the jeep's driver, who insisted that the train was still a safe distance from their location when he drove over the tracks.

"Kasi nung pagpasok ko po, nakataas pa yung parang buzzer ng stop, kaya pumasok pa 'ko. Nung pag-pasok ko na, mamaya-maya, nagsigawan na yung pasahero, nandyan na raw yung tren, nag-buzzer na sila," a repentant Pertida said.

Other passengers, including Rowena Evangelista, contended that Pertida drove onto the train tracks despite safety boom already going down.

"Kasi po yung jeep po namin, nag-alarm na po yung PNR station dito, pilit pa rin po siyang pumasok... Nung nakita po namin na paparating na yung jeep, tatlo po kaming tumalon. Naiwanan po yung teacher, isang paa lang po yung naihakbang niya kaya natangay po siya nung tren," Evangelista recalled.

Six other passengers were rushed to the Sta. Ana Hospital due to the incident. Matias was also taken to the hospital but eventually passed away.

Pertida will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injury and will have his license cancelled by the Manila Traffic Department.

"I-ano natin sa LTO 'yan para maano yung lisensya niya," SPO2 Mario Lising said. —Rie Takumi/NB, GMA News