17 hurt in three-bus smashup in EDSA Bus Carousel - Balintawak

Three buses collided Friday at the southbound lane of the Balintawak Station of the EDSA Bus Carousel, leaving 17 individuals injured.

According to Vonne Aquino’s report on ''Saksi,'' a bus lost its brakes and triggered the collision with the two other buses. 

The bus conductor believes that the steel plate covering a pothole hit underneath the vehicle, which caused it to lose control of the brakes. 

“May tumamang bakal sa ilalim ng bus at biglang nawala ng hangin. Kapag nawalan ng hangin ang bus, hindi ‘yan makakapag-preno at mawawalan na rin po pati kambyo, pati manibela hindi natin maigagalaw ang bus,” said conductor Wilberto Cayabyab.

(A steel hit underneath the bus which damaged our air supply hose. If the bus loses air, you cannot hit the brakes and move the vehicle.) 

The said bus also hit the barriers in the carousel lane. 

Before the incident happened, the air supply hose from another bus was broken after it passed by the steel plate. 

“May cover yun na flat bar, pagdaan namin, siguro umangat siya, tinamaan ito kaya naputol, nawalan kami ng hangin,” said Jessie Paguia, bus conductor. 

(There’s a cover down there with a flat bar and I think it cut the hose when we passed by.) 

In Allan Gatus' report on Super Radyo dzBB, personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Quezon City local government unit responded to the incident.

The wounded passengers were brought to the Quezon City General Hospital.

One report said at least two victims were badly injured, including the driver of the bus which lost its brakes.

Authorities are still investigating who should be held responsible for the incident and if the steel plate really caused the bus to lose its brakes. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/ VDV/VBL, GMA Integrated News