Richard Gutierrez hurt, assistant killed in Cavite road accident

MANILA, Philippines - An assistant of actor Richard Gutierrez was killed while the matinee idol and his bodyguard were injured after they figured in a road accident in Cavite province before dawn Friday. PO1 Bonifacio Tañola of the Cavite police said the accident occurred at 1:20 a.m. at an accident-prone area at the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road in Puting Kahoy village in Silang town in Cavite. “Bale bumangga po sa poste, malalim ang lugar na binagsakan niya. Medyo may bangin at bumangga sa puno ng niyog [Gutierrez’s car hit a post and fell into a deep ravine, and hit a coconut tree]," Tañola said in an interview on dzBB radio. Gutierrez's assistant died while being treated at the Adventist University of the Philippines Hospital. A separate report on dwIZ radio initially identified him as Norman Pardo. The dwIZ report said Gutierrez, 25, and his bodyguard George Mastura, suffered relatively minor injuries and were rushed to the Tagaytay Hospital for treatment. Initial investigation showed Gutierrez was on his way home from a shooting when the accident occurred. He was the one driving the Nissan Skyline GTR sports car. Tañola said the area where the mishap took place is “accident-prone" as it is near a blind curve. He said there have been complaints that there are no lights or safety barriers on that part of the road. - GMANews.TV