2 personnel in MRT vehicle collision in critical condition; Management to shoulder expenses

Two of the seven personnel injured in a collision of two maintenance vehicles of the Metro Rail Transit are still in critical condition, a 24 Oras report said on Wednesday.

The MRT management, however, said it will shoulder the medical expenses of the seven personnel.

"May nahulog du'n sa unimog, 'yun 'yung nag-suffer dun sa injury while the rest naman are 'yun nga, nauntog sa gilid. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Panginoon na wala naman pong fatalities," MRT General Manager Engr. Mike Capati said at a briefing.

The seven victims were identified as Joseph Ursuja, Rogelio Pijamonte, Regie Velarde, Alex Laingo, Randy Bulilan, Eric Cabag and one unimog driver only identified as "Soriano."

Before the MRT-3 began operations, two unimogs or maintenance vehicles collided with each other on the tracks between the Buendia and Guadalupe stations at around 3 a.m.

No deaths have been reported but a total of seven maintenance and security personnel have been rushed to medical treatment.

'Communication lapse'

An investigation showed that one of the unimogs crashed into another due to communication problems between their respective operators.

"Sa initial investigation namin du'n po yata, lumalabas na mukhang hindi nakapag-radyo 'yung driver nu'ng unimog na naka-bangga du'n sa isa," he said.

"Since nagkaroon po ng communication lapse, hindi niya nalaman na meron pang gumagawa," he added.

Capati also said the second driver hit the brakes but the vehicle did not immediately stop.

"Kumabit 'yung preno kaya lang medyo malapit nga kasi nga blind corner, hindi na nakaya. 'Yung bigat ng likod, tinulak din siya paharap kaya tinamaan," he said.

The mishap hampered the MRT-3's services and inconvenienced commuters waiting in long lines as early as 5 a.m.

Trains were deployed at 6 a.m. but operations were only normalized at around 7:30 a.m.

The MRT management sought the public's understanding and vowed to improve their communication and safety system to avoid similar accidents. — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM, GMA News