10 passengers hurt as MRT train makes sudden stop

(Updated 5:26 p.m.) At least 10 passengers were injured as three Metro Rail Transit (MRT) trains simultaneously made a sudden stop at three different stations before noon on Wednesday, a television report said.

According to a report on GMA News TV's News TV Live, four of the injured passengers were immediately rushed to the Makati Medical Center for treatment.

Quoting Makati City Police chief Police Superintendent Manuel Lucban, the report said the driver of a southbound coach hit the emergency brakes near the Ayala station, causing a domino effect on two other southbound coaches.

The MRT management blamed the incident on driver's error.

"At around 10:50 AM today, March 26, the driver of Train No.1, Car No. 14, failed to observe the Red Light Status at the Guadalupe Statioj and accelerated southbound without getting prior clearance from the Control Center," it said in a statement.

"This was clearly a lapse on part of the train driver," it added, noting that the driver, whom the MRT management did not identify, only has six months in the service.



The MRT management said because of the driver's action, the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system "kicked in and locked the brakes of the train."

"The sudden braking resulted in passengers inside the train to bump into each other. Eight (8) passengers, upon alighting at their destinations complained that they sustained minor injuries," it added.

The incident occurred five days after a glitch hit the MRT system, forcing it to limit its operations for the day. The MRT blamed a problem with the computer system for the problem, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.

Because of the glitch, MRT trips were suspended between Taft Avenue in Pasay City and Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City. — Amanda Fernandez/KBK, GMA News