5 die, 60 others hurt in series of NLEX accidents

Five people were killed while at least 60 others were hurt in an accident-filled Monday at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). Separate radio reports said at least five accidents occurred, four of which were in the territory of Bulacan while the remaining one happened in Valenzuela City. The bloodiest accident happened at about 11 a.m. after a passenger bus (plate TWC-496) careened at Kilometer 42 near the Pulilan exit in Bulacan. Four people died while at least 43 others were injured in the said incident. Two female passengers – Gwendolyn Manansala and a certain "Ms. X" – were declared dead on arrival at the Bulacan Provincial Hospital in Malolos City. Another victim, Rodolfo Bernatia, expired while being treated at the same medical facility, a nurse told GMANews.TV. Dave Bautista of the NLEX Traffic Control Unit said a fourth fatality was also recorded in the bus accident although this person's identity was not immediately known. Aside from the Bulacan Provincial Hospital, Bautista said some victims were also rushed to two other hospitals, namely the Sacred Heart Hospital in Malolos City and the JB Lingad Hospital in San Fernando City in Pampanga. He added that information reaching them showed that between 50 to 60 passengers were on board the ill-fated vehicle, owned by Genesis Busline, when the incident took place. Valenzuela mishap A fifth fatality was reported in Valenzuela City, after two trucks collided and scattered their cargo on the pavement before dawn Monday. Radio reports said the accident occurred after a truck carrying sand and gravel hit a six-wheel delivery truck transporting acetylene cylinders. Radio dzMM said the fifth fatality was identified as truck driver Amancio Aniasco, who died on the spot. A helper from one of the trucks was reported as seriously injured. The collision snarled southbound traffic for about four kilometers. Manila North Tollways Corp (MNTC) personnel managed to tow away the truck carrying the acetylene tanks but had to bring in heavier equipment to bring out the dump truck. Northbound, southbound Also on Monday morning, a seven-vehicle smashup occurred at Kilometer 29 near the Balagtas, Bulacan exit at about 10:30 a.m. Bautista said that the pileup included 2 passenger buses (Sierra Madre and Dagupan buslines), a 10-wheel truck, a closed van, a Mitsubishi Adventure utility vehicle, a Ford XLT pick-up and a Kia Pregio van. Five people were injured in this incident, radio dzMM said. In eight minutes Two separate mishaps eight minutes apart were reported about 100 meters away from the Genesis bus accident site. An Isuzu Elf truck (TGN-219) transporting pigs fell on its left side at about 11:12 a.m. It was at the NLEX southbound side. Then at the northbound lane, a Victory Liner bus (CXE-694) also careened on the road at 11:20 a.m. A dzMM report said the hogs on board the Elf truck escaped from their cage, with some even crossing the highway and briefly snarling traffic on the other side. Eleven people from the Victory Liner incident were injured, radio dzMM said. Emergency The Bulacan Provincial Hospital accommodated over 30 passengers from the twin bus accidents. Eighteen injured passengers, including a pregnant woman, were brought to the Sacred Heart Hospital. Of the 18, one victim was from the Victory Liner bus while the remaining came from the Genesis bus. Chief nurse Emy Gatchalian told GMANews.TV that the casualties suffered injuries ranging from fractured shoulders and pelvic bones to cuts caused by flying shards of glass. Gatchalian added, "It's a good thing the bus did not burst into flames. The victims arrived here with the smell of diesel." Renato Bartolo, a passenger of the Genesis bus, said in a radio interview that the Genesis bus came from Bataan and was bound for Metro Manila when it swerved. An unnamed rescue personnel earlier told dzBB radio in Filipino that, "The injured victims are OK, their vital signs are stable. We are just waiting for transportation to the hospital." - GMANews.TV